R 


BY 


51  GEORGE  RATH 


THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


JACK  PLACED  ONE  FOOT   UPON   THE  BROAD   SPACE  BETWEEN 
THE  HORNS,  THEN  SPRANG  UPON  THE  ANIMAL'S  BACK.- (P.  68.) 


DOCTOR  JACK. 


A  NOVEL. 


BY 


ST.  GEORGE  RATHBORNE, 


AtJTHOB   OF 


"DOCTOR  JACK'S  WIFE,"   "CAPTAIN    TOM,"    "BARON    SAM," 
"MISS  PAULINE  OF  NEW  YORK,"  "MISS  CAPRICE,"  wo. 


K"EW  YOBK: 

STREET  &  SMITH   PUBLISHERS, 

58ft  ROM  Street. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  In  the  year  1690, 

Br  BTREKT  &  SMITH, 
In  the  Office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress,  at  Washington,  D.  0. 


PS 


CONTENTS. 


BOOK   I. 

THE   BULL-FIGHT    AT   MADRID. 

CHAPTER.  VAGB. 

I— The  Hotel  on  the  Calle  del  Prado 9 

II — What  Happened  in  the  Plaza  del  Toros 22 

III — "Caramba!    I  Adore  a  Brave  Man!" 33 

IV — The  Little  Engagement  of  Doctor  Jack  and  Senor  Toro 46 

V — A  Meeting  in  the  Royal  Museum 58 

VI — "Doctor  Jack  Must  Not  Leave  this  House   at  Eight!" .  71 

BOOK  II. 

THE  NIGHT    OF    THE    CARNIVAL. 

VII— That  Terrible  Right  Arm Kg 

VIII— Jack's   Story 101 

IX — Madrid   Awakens  at    Midnight „ 114 

X — A  Message  by  Special  Courier 123 

XI — Larry  Looms  Up , , 134 

XII  -  Planning  the  Exodus. . .  146 


1763805 


BOOK  HI. 

ON    THE   ROAD    TO    PARIS. 

CHAPTER.  PAGE 

XIII— "It  is  Love  that  Brings  Me  Here  to  Save  You!" 155 

XIV— The  Stop   at  Zaragoza 169 

XV-"I  Guess  We're  in  for  It,  Larry,  My  Boy." 184 

XVI— The  Lion  at  Bay 194 

XVH— In  the  Office  of  the  Paris  Prefect  of  Police 206 

XVIII— Off  for  the  Orient 219 

BOOK    IV. 

THE    MEETING   IN   CONSTANTINOPLE. 

XIX — Stamboul,  the  Magnificent 231 

XX— Over  the  Wall  to  the  Palace 243 

XXI— Mercedes 255 

XXII  —  The  Telegram  Larry  Did  Not  Receive 267 

XXITI  -  "On  to  the  Harem!" 278 

XXIV  -Peace  With  Honor 289 


OOK    WNE. 


THE  BULL-FIGHT  AT  MADRID. 


DOCTOR  JACK. 


CHAPTER  I. 

THE  HOTEL  ON  THE  CALLE  DEL  PBADO. 

Rat-tat-tat ! 

This  summons,  in  the  shape  of  several  hearty 
blows,  is  beaten  upon  the  door  of  a  room — the  best 
the  house  affords — of  an  hotel  on  the  Calle  del  Prado, 
in  Madrid.  Within  the  chamber  there  is  a  movement 
among  the  bed-clothes,  a  smothered  yawn,  and  then 
a  voice,  resonant  and  unmistakably  American,  calls 
out: 

"Hello  there,  what's  the  row?'* 

"The  senor  wished  to  be  awakened  at  nine.  It  is 
a  beautiful  day  for  the  bull-fight.  Besides,  there  is  a 
gentleman  waiting  to  see  you,"  comes  the  voice  of 
the  landlord  from  beyond. 

Jack  Evans  sits  up  in  bed.  The  sleep  is  gone  from 
his  eyes  entirely  as  he  sees  the  golden  sunlight 
creeping  in  through  the  small  windows. 

"Send  him  up  in  ten  minutes,  landlord,  and  have 
breakfast  for  two  in  double  that  time." 

"Si,  senor." 

Jack  Evans  proceeds  to  dress  leisurely,  as  though 


10  VOVTOK  JAWL 

life  had  little  in  it  to  make  him  hurry,  or  else  from 
some  deep-rooted  aversion  to  haste.  His  bed  has 
been  a  hard  one,  but  this  singular  young  man  has 
roughed  it  all  over  the  world,  and  possesses  the  ad 
mirable  characteristic  of  adapting  himself  to  circum 
stances.  He  can  sleep  just  as  soundly  whether  011  a 
feather  bed,  in  a  New  England  town,  or  on  the  bare 
boards  of  a  Mississippi  shanty  boat — in  a  word,  he 
makes  a  superb  traveler,  grumbling  at  nothing. 

He  has  just  finished  his  ablutions,  and  is  applying 
the  coarse  towel  vigorously,  when  a  rap  sounds 
upon  the  door. 

"Enter!"  he  sings  out,  whereupon  the  door,  which 
he  has  unbarred,  is  pushed  open,  and  a  Spanish 
gentleman  greets  him  warmly. 

"You  are  a  late  riser  this  morning,  Senor  Evans. 
The  fandango  last  night  must  have  been  too  much 
for  you,"  laughs  the  new-comer. 

"I  confess  that  I  dreamed  of  the  gipsies,  ar»d  the 
clattering  castanets  haunted  me,  but  that  was  not 
my  first  zama-cueca,  Don  Carlos." 

"Indeed,  I  thought  you  had  only  been  a  few  days 
on  Spanish  soil.  Where  have  you  seen  the  national 
dance  before?" 

"My  dear  fellow,  I  spent  three  years  of  my  life  in 
Mexico.  It  was  there  I  made  my  fortune  in  the  gold 
mines,  you  know.  That  is  how  I  speak  Spanish  so 
well,"  and  Jack  Evans  proceeds  to  arrange  his  tie 
in  a  neglige  style  that  has  always  seemed  a  part  of 
himself. 

The  Spaniard  looks  at  him  in  a  peculiar  way,  as 
though  the  answer  brings  amazement.  This  young 
American,  whose  acquaintance  he  had  formed  in 
gay  Paris,  excites  new  feeliners  within  his  breast 
every  day. 


DOCTOR  JACK.  11 

* 'Three  years  in  Mexico,  Senor  Evans.  And  you 
have  hunted  grizzlies  in  the  Rocky  Mountains, 
played  cowboy  in  Texas,  shot  moose  while  on  snow- 
shoes  in  Canada,  trailed  the  jaguar  on  the  Amazon, 
hunted  tigers  and  elephants  in  India,  been  chased 
by  lions  in  Africa — you  have  seen  the  wastes  of  Si 
beria,  explored  China,  been  lost  in  Alaska,  sailed  on 
a  whaler  into  the  Polar  seas,  and  traveled  across  the 
Dark  Continent  with  Stanley  — in  the  name  of 
Heaven,  man,  how  old  are  you:"' 

Jack  Evans  laughs  aloud.  He  is  amused  at  the  as 
tonishment  of  the  Spaniard. 

"Seventv  by  experience,  but  really  just  thirty-two 
last  month,  Don  Carlos — we  Americans  live  fast, 
you  know.  At  twelve  I  was  riding  the  wildest  mus 
tangs  of  Texas,  so  you  see  there  has  been  twenty 
years  for  the  rest." 

Carambaf  you  are  a  wonderful  man,  senor. "  Then 
a  flash  of  suspicion  leaps  to  his  eyes — "Perhaps  you 
have  already  seen  a  bull  fight.  I  am  told  they  have 
terrible  encounters  in  the  land  of  the  Montezumas." 

"Yes,"  replies  Jack,  quietly,  "I  have  seen  some 
bull  fights  that  would  set  staid  old  Madrid  wild,  I 
imagine,  for  the  Spanish-American  blood  would 
never  put  up  with  the  tame  affairs  you  have  over 
here,  if  what  I  hear  of  them  is  half  true." 

"Ah!  senor,  I  think  they  will  give  you  a  sight 
worth  seeing  to-day — a  black  toro,  the  fiercest  bull 
south  of  the  Apennines,  and  instead  of  the  worn  out 
hacks  usually  put  in  to  bait  his  fury,  they  mean  to 
have  noble  horses  for  the  picadors.  This  is  the 
greatest  day  Madrid  has  had  for  a  decade.  Your 
blood  will  be  thrilled  by  the  daring  of  our  brave 
bull-fighters." 

Jack  listens  with  something  of  a  sneer,  for  he  has 


li  DOCTOR  JACK. 

had  much  experience  among  this  class  of  boasters, 
and  knows  what  little  bravery  they  usually,  possess, 
slinking  away  whenever  a  fierce  bull  turns  upon 
them,  prodding  him  from  the  rear,  and  vaulting  tho 
fence  as  he  makes  a  rush.  The  Spanish  character, 
as  seen  from  a  foreign  standpoint,  has  little  in  it  for 
an  American  or  Englishman  to  admire,  and  Jack 
has  never  been  able  to  overcome  this  prejudice.  All 
candor  himself,  brave  to  a  fault,  and  daring,  too — a 
splendid  boxer,  dashing  rider,  keen  sportsman,  and 
no  mean  hand  with  the  foils  or  the  rifle,  this 
American  adventurer  cannot  understand  the  crafty 
tactics  that  generally  go  hand  in  hand  with  the 
Spanish  nation — he  cannot  enter  into  and  appreciate 
their  methods,  so  different  from  his  own. 

"1  trust  it  will  be  as  you  say,  Don  Carlos.  My 
blood  grows  stagnant  again,  and  I  long  for  excite 
ment.  I  hope  your  black  bull  will  be  the  equal  of 
some  1  have  slain  in  Mexico." 

"What!  you  a  bull-fighter,  too,  senor?" 

"Oh  1  I've  taken  a  turn  in  the  ring  along  with  the 
rest,  and  became  disgusted  with  it.  By  the  way, 
what  did  you  do  with  the  skin  of  the  bear  I  shot 
when  with  you  in  the  Pyrenees?" 

''It  is  made  into  a  rug.  You  shall  see  it  when  you 
go  home  with  me.  My  niece  is  all  excitement  at  the 
thought  of  meeting  my  American  friend,  of  whom  I 
have  talked  so  much." 

Jack  is  using  his  hair-brush  vigorously,  for  his 
curly  locks  are  thick.  He  does  not  even  smile  at 
the  implied  compliment,  for  even  at  thirty-two  one 
may  be  much  of  a  cynic  and  anchorite,  and  this 
American  fancies  he  is  proof  against  all  the  wiles 
that  may  be  found  under  the  vail  and  mantilla  of 
Spain's  biack-eyed  daughters. 


DOCTOR  JACK.  13 

Don  Carlos  watches  him  with  that  deep  look  in  his 
eyes  again — an  expression  that  tells  of  some  thought 
flitting  through  his  brain.  He  bends  over  and  ex 
amines  with  a  quick  glance  some  object  on  the  stand 
—it  is  only  a  cluster  of  withered  roses  tied  together 
with  a  thread,  but  in  the  Spaniard's  eyes  very  sig 
nificant. 

"I  thought  as  much,  Senor  Evans.  You  hope  to 
see  a  face  at  the  bull-fight  to-day — the  face  of  the 
girl  who  sold  you  flowers  in  the  market  on  the  Ram- 
bla  in  Barcelona — the  supposed  Catalan  peasant. 
Ah!  senor,  trust  the  eyes  of  a  Spanish  gentleman  to 
read  secrets  like  these.  When  you  told  me  that 
story  I  knew  you  would  look  for  her  in  Madrid.'' 

This  time  Jack  finds  it  impossible  to  keep  a 
straight  face,  and  he  laughs  outright — a  merry, 
cheerful  laugh  it  is,  that  prepossesses  one  in  favor 
of  the  person  from  whom  it  emanates. 

4 'My  dear  fellow,  it's  dused  hard  to  keep  a  secret 
from  you.  I  was  hoping  to  lay  eyes  once  more  on 
that  face,  for  it  impressed  me  not  by  the  beauty 
alone,  but  something  deeper.  She  said  she  was  to 
be  in  Madrid  at  the  time  of  the  great  bull-fight,  and 
I  found  I  could  just  as  well  be  here  as  above,  so  I 
came." 

"You  had  quite  an  adventue  in  Barcelona,  I  un 
derstood  you  to  say  last  night.'* 

The  American  looks  a  trifle  annoyed.  He  likes 
Don  Carlos,  who  has  some  admirable  points  about 
him,  and  who  stood  up  before  that  bear  in  the 
Pyrenees  like  a  hero,  and  then  again  there  are  things 
about  the  Spaniard  which  do  not  please  him  at  all. 
He  fancies,  for  instance,  that  the  other  takes  more 
interest  in  himself  and  his  affairs  than  mere  friend 
ship  would  warrant,  and  once  or  twice  a  faint  sus- 


14  DOCTOR  JACK. 

picion  has  flitted  across  Jack's  mind  that  possibly 
the  artful  Spaniard  may  have  a  reason  back  ot  iiis 
curiosity. 

"Yes,  I  hinted  to  you  about  it  last  night  when  I 
told  about  the  flower  girl.  Let  me  see — it  is  time  for 
breakfast.  I  have  ordered  for  two.'* 

Don  Carlos  expostulates  that  he  has  broken  his 
fast  two  hours  back,  but  the  American  will  not  take 
no  for  an  answer. 

"It  is  time  you  ate  again,  then.  You  must  share 
my  ollapodrida.  Company  makes  it  sweeter." 

"Very  well,  senor,  since  you  insist  on  it.  Besides, 
as  we  eat  you  can  relate  your  strange  adventure  in 
Barcelona.'' 

Jack  shrugs  his  shoulders,  and  thinks  his  com 
panion  set  in  his  ways.  No  wonder  the  Spaniard 
makes  a  good  hunter,  when  by  nature  he  is  so  per 
sistent. 

So  the  two  make  a  break  for  the  dining-room  of 
the  Spanish  fonda,  and  are  presently  discussing  a 
warm  breakfast,  which  is,  indeed,  fair  in  quality 
and  variety,  shaming  Jack's  joke  on  the  one  dish 
question. 

"Now,  Senor  Evans,  I  am  all  attention.  What  of 
the  strange  nun  of  the  cloister  adjoining  the  Bene 
dictine  church  of  San  Pedro  at  Gerona?" 

Jack  Evans  stirs  the  contents  of  his  cup,  adding  a 
little  more  sugar,  and  seems  to  be  collecting  his 
thoughts,  so  that  he  may  waste  no  words  in  narra 
ting  his  adventure.  There  is  a  conviction  in  his  mind 
— he  knows  not  from  whence  it  springs — that  lie 
will  do  well  not  to  trust  his  entire  confidence  to  this 
olive-colored  acquaintance. 

"It  is  hardly  worth  the  telling,  Don  Carlos,  but 
since  you  have  expressed  a  desire  to  hear  thf  Tiarra- 


DOCTOR  JAGK.  16 

tive,  I  will  proceed.  After  leaving  you  in  the 
Pyrenees  I  ran  back  to  Paris,  for  the  message  I  re 
ceived  was  important.  I  spent  nearly  two  weeks 
there,  and  then  made  up  my  mind  to  see  Spain, 
reached  Barcelona  first,  and  put  up  at  the  Fonda  dei 
Oriente,  the  hotel  on  the  Rambla. 

"You  have  seen  enough  of  me,  senor,  to  under 
stand  that  when  I  go  into  a  thing  I  let  nothing  hold 
me  back.  This  applies  to  everything  I  undertake, 
from  sight-seeing  to  a  flirtation  with  a  pretty  girl. 
So  I  soon  saw  all  I  wanted  of  the  old  city,  and  wheit 
the  afternoon  came  was  almost  tempted  to  take  the 
t**ain  down  the  coast  for  Madrid. 

"'What  prevented  me?  Well,  in  the  first  place,  I 
set  eyes  on  that  flower  girl,  and  received  a  shock 
from  her  eyes  that  riddled  my  heart  like  a  house 
wife's  sieve.  So  I  made  up  my  mind  Madrid  could 
wait  a  while,  and  arranged  to  spend  the  night  in 
Barcelona. 

''There  were  things  to  be  seen  there  after  dark, 
and  my  guide  had  laid  out  a  programme,  which  the 
evening  gun  from  the  fortress  towering  high  above 
the  city  was  to  usher  in.  It  was  a  gala  time  there 
— in  fact,  I  imagine  you  people  of  Spain,  like  those 
of  Italy,  have  seven  holidays  a  week.  Soldiers'  gay 
uniforms  were  everywhere,  together  with  the  fancy 
costumes  of  the  natives. 

"Many  a  beautiful  senorita  caught  my  eye  as  she 
showered  flowers  upon  me  from  a  balcony,  and 
black  scowls  were  cast  upon  me  by  some  of  your 
countrymen,  jealous,  no  doubt,  of  my  luck  with  the 
girls. 

"My  guide  was  one  Francisco  Marti— you  start — 
perhaps  he  is  known  to  you.  I  had  found  him  a 
bright  and  useful  fellow  during;  the  day,  ard  can  see 


16  DOCTOR  JACK. 

him  in  my  mind's  eye  now — swarthy,  agile,  dressed 
in  a  colored  cotton  shirt,  pants  tight  at  the  leg,  and 
held  by  a  crimson  sash,  leggins  and  sandals,  with  a 
red  cloth  Phrygian  cap  above. 

"I  would  give  his  weight  in  silver  to  have  that 
same  Francisco  Marti  in  a  room  alone  with  me  for 
ten  minutes — but  you  shall  see.  We  had  arranged  to 
learn  how  the  Barcelona  fandango  compared  with 
the  Parisian  Mabile,  and  my  guide  took  me  to  the 
gipsy  quarter,  where  the  southern  dance,  he  de 
clared,  could  be  seen  as  nowhere  else  in  all  Barce 
lona.  So,  as  I  said  before,  when  the  sunset  gun  had 
been  fired  we  started  out  upon  our  circuit. 

"I  thought  his  actions  strange,  but  believed  he 
had  simply  been  drinking  a  little  too  much  of  your 
native  liquor.  Truth  to  tell,  the  fellow  had  been  so 
astonishingly  smart  that  I  forgave  his  little  short 
comings.  We  watched  the  gipsy  dance,  and  when 
it  became  too  warm  for  my  American  blood  I  stepped 
out. 

"Francisco  declared  he  had  another  sight  for  me, 
and  led  me  along  a  gloomy  street  that  ran  into  the 
Calle  San  Pablo.  Here  we  were  attacked  by  a  clique 
of  rascals,  to  make  a  long  story  short,  and  I  realized 
that  my  guide  had  sold  me  to  a  lot  of  bandits. 
Luckily  I  am  always  armed,  and  my  long  experience 
with  danger  has  taught  me  the  art  of  self  defense.  I 
gave  them  more  than  they  bargained  for,  and  laid 
several  of  them  bleeding  on  the  ground,  receiving  in 
return  a  tremendous  blow  from  the  flat  of  a  machete 
on  the  head  that  would  have  cut  me  to  the  chin  had 
the  edge  been  turned  properly. 

"Then  a  cry  was  raised  that  the  alquazil*.  or  police, 
were  coming,  mid  my  nssnilants  fled.  I  thought  I 
would  follow,  for  I  felt  an  almost  insane  desire  to 


DOCTOR  JACK.  17 

lay  hands  on  that  villain  of  a  Francisco,  but  my 
head  began  to  swim,  I  clutched  at  a  railing  for  sup 
port,  and  crashed  against  the  door  of  a  house. 

"My  senses  must  have  left  me  immediately,  for  I 
knew  no  more  until  I  opened  my  eyes  in  a  chamber, 
and  found  a  woman  dressed  in  somber  black  attend 
ing  me.  She  did  not  know  I  had  regained  my  senses, 
and  I  lay  there  some  minutes  observing  her.  You 
can  imagine  my  surprise  when  I  declare  that  the 
face  cf  the  nun  was  the  face  of  the  peasant  girl  who 
Bold  me  the  flowers  in  the  mart  on  the  wonderful 
Kambla. 

"Then  I  coughed  to  let  her  know  I  was  in  a  sensi 
ble  state  again,  at  which  she  hastily  dropped  her 
heavy  vail,  as  if  desirous  that  I  should  not  see  her 
countenance.  I  was  not  badly  hurt,  onlv  stunned, 
and  while  my  head  swam,  could  get  upon  my  feet, 
though  somewhat  tempted  to  play. invalid  in  order 
to  feel  those  white  hands  bathe  my  brow  again  with 
eau  de  cologne. 

"All  she  would  tell  me  was  that  she  was  Sister 
Agatha,  from  the  cloister  of  the  Benedictine  church 
of  San  Pedro,  at  Gerona,  and  happened  to  be  visit 
ing  this  house  at  the  hour  I  fell  at  the  door  in  a 
senseless  condition.  I  knew  better — the  face  I  had 
seen  had  color  in  it,  which  a  nun's  never  has,  be 
cause  they  shut  themselves  away  from  the  health- 
giving  sun.  Naturally  I  have  puzzled  over  several 
questions  since  that  hour — who  is  the  beautiful 
flower  girl  of  the  Rambla  in  Barcelona,  what  inter 
est  does  she  take  in  me,  for  I  am  convinced  in  my 
soul  she  does,  and  why  should  she  be  going  about 
disguised  as  a  nun?  When  I  find  an  opportunity  I 
mean  to  have  these  things  explained  to  me,  as  I  am 
convinced  that  there  is  a  mystery  somewhere." 


IS  DOCTOR  JACK. 

During  the  brief  recital  of  this  little  adventure  m 
the  ancient  Spanish  city,  Jack's  companion  has  lis 
tened  eagerly,  almost  breathlessly — indeed,  it  is  evi 
dent  that  he  feels  more  than  an  ordinary  interest  in 
the  narrative.  The  mention  of  Jack's  discovery  con 
cerning  the  identity  of  the  nun  with  the  Catalan 
peasant  girl  in  the  flower  market  causes  a  light  to 
appear  in  Don  Carlos'  eyes,  but  his  natural  crafti 
ness  enables  him  to  speedily  smother  this,  and  when 
he  speaks  it  is  in  a  very  ordinary  way. 

"Quite  a  little  adventure,  senor — almost  equal  to 
the  one  you  told  me  about  in  Quito,  Peru,  where  you 
saved  a  girl  from  a  beast  that  had  escaped  from  a 
cage — am  I  right?" 

"Just  so.  I  bear  the  marks  of  the  jaguar's  teeth 
on  my  left  arm  still — see  here,"  and  drawing  up  his 
sleeve  he  holds  out  the  arm  to  the  Spaniard,  who 
goes  into  raptures  at  its  wonderfully  powerful  struc 
ture,  and  then  examines  with  deep  interest  several 
long-healed  wounds,  as  regularly  in  a  circle  as  the 
teeth  of  a  wounded  tiger  cat  could  make  them. 

"You  have  a  powerful  physique,  Senor  Evans. 
I've  never  met  a  man,  but  one,  like  you." 

"And  he?" 

"You  shall  see  him  to-day.  He  is  the  matador 
who  is  to  finish  this  terrible  bull — Pedro  Vasquez. 
All  Madrid  loves  him  because  he  has  as  yet  never 
quailed  before  a  mad  toro,  but  I  venture  to  predict 
Pedro  will  have  his  hands  full  to-day.  But  your 
build  is  deceptive.  When  dressed  you  look  like  an 
ordinary  gentleman,  with  a  desire  to  take  life  easy, 
and  yet,  as  I  know,  these  muscles  are  like  springs  of 
steel,  and  lightning  is  not  quicker  than  your  move 
ments  when  once  you  have  decided  what  to  do." 

Jack  pushes  his  CUD  from  him,  and  proceeds  to  roll 


DOCTOR  JACK.  i» 

a  cigarette — he  believes  in  the  old  adage  that  "when 
in  Home  do  as  the  Romans  do,"  and  in  Spain  the 
cigarette  is  everywhere— the  people  live  on  tobacco, 
and  as  a  writer  expresses  it  very  neatly,  "one  might 
reasonably  look  for  the  spontaneous  growth  of  the 
weed  upon  a  Spaniard's  grave  did  he  not  prefer  to 
be  hermetically  sealed  up  above  the  ground.' 

Don  Carlos  Castelina  follows  suit,  and  the  two 
arise  from  the  table.  Already  out  upon  the  street 
can  be  heard  the  excitement  that  heralds  in  the  day 
of  the  great  bull-fight.  Others  have  been  known  in 
the  past,  but  the  management  have  spent  money 
lavishly  to  make  this  affair  the  most  notable  of  the 
decade.  People  have  been  pouring  into  Madrid  for 
a  week.  Jack  Evans  has  found  the  five  principal 
hotels  near  the  Puerta  del  Sol,  or  central  plaza,  full, 
and  has  been  obliged  to  seek  quarters  farther  away, 
hut  money  will  do  almost  anything  in  this  world, 
and  he  has  had  no  reason  to  feel  sorry  because  of 
his  being  crowded  out. 

The  two  strange  friends  saunter  outside  to  view 
the  scene.  Banners  are  flying,  and  the  bustle  and 
noise  make  the  American  think  the  occasion  is  what 
the  glorious  Fourth  represents  to  his  native  coun 
trymen. 

Every  one  seems  in  his  best  clothes,  the  streets 
present  an  animated  appearance,  and  men  and 
women  all  head  in  one  direction,  where  lies  the 
monster  pavilion,  the  arena  of  many  a  bloody  battle 
between  Taurus  and  his  tormentors  in  the  past. 

Jack  is  surprised  at  the  tremendous  interest  the 
populace  of  Madrid  takes  in  the  affair.  It  is  equal 
to  the  greatest  championship  game  of  base-ball  he 
ever  attended,  more  so  because  the  capacity  of  the 


90  DOCTOR  JACK. 

pavilion  is  greater,  and  even  those  who  do  not  go 
don  their  holiday  attire. 

"Come,  we  will  be  late,  Don  Carlos.  If  half  this 
mob  finds  an  entrance  there  will  not  be  standing 
room  in  an  hour,"  and  the  American  plucks  his 
companion  by  the  arm,  but  the  Spaniard  coolly 
takes  something  out  of  his  pockets,  which  he  holds 
aloft. 

"These  are  the  best  seats  to  be  had.  Each  is  a 
loletin  de  sombra.  Depend  upon  it,  senor,  we  will  wit 
ness  this  affair  in  comfort  from  the  shade.  I  have  a 
friend  among  the  directors.  You  will  sit  next  my 
niece  at  the  tournament,  and  there  have  a  chance  to 
make  her  acquaintance." 

"Your  niece  at  this  bloody  business,"  exclaims 
the  American,  and  then  adds:  "Oh!  I  forgot,  it  is 
your  national  game.  Of  course  foreigners  cannot 
understand  such  things.  I,  for  one,  fail  to  see  how 
a  young  lady  likes  to  look  upon  such  slaughter." 

"It  is  in  the  blood,  I  suppose,  senor,"  mutters  Don 
Carlos,  "you  shall  hear  my  niece  cry  'Viva  toro' 
when  the  bull  chases  a  cowardly  chulo  over  the 
fonce,  and  if  by  rare  good  luck  the  beast  tosses  a 
wretched  banderillero  with  his  gay  darts  among  the 
audience,  those  little  hands  will  clap,  and  her  voice 
— a  sweeter  one  never  sang  'Ave  Maria' — will  cry 
bravo  to  the  toro,  yet  I  know  Mercedes  has  a  tender 
heart.  I  have  seen  her  cry  over  a  wounded  bird, 
and  sit  up  all  night  with  a  sick  woman.  Yes.  it 
runs  in  the  blood,  senor.  We  have  had  bull-fights  in 
Spain  for  centuries,  and  always  shall.  But  we  might 
as  well  go  to  save  ourselves  being  crushed  in  the 
crowd  " 

They  join  in  the  throng  that  heads  in  the  direction 
of  the  Plaza  del  Toro,  and  finally  sight  the  walls  of 


DOCTOR  JACK.  21 

the  great  pavilion.  Jack  Evans  looks  upon  tne  stir 
ring  scene  with  its  gay  coloring.  Somehow  his  usual 
debonair  air  is  absent,  a  look  that  one  might  even 
term  concern  gathers  upon  his  face  as  he  turns  to 
his  companion,  and  remarks,  quietly: 

"You  may  laugh  at  me,  Don  Carlos,  but  I  have  a 
strange  feeling — a  premonition  that  this  day  is  to  be 
a  red  letter  one  in  my  career.  I  can  not  explain  it— 
do  not  ask  me,  but  wait  and  see  if  I  am  right." 


DOUTOX  JAtOL 


CHAPTER  IL 

WHAT  HAPPENED  IN  THE  PLAZA  DEL.  TOROi. 

The  crowd  is  tremendous,  but  they  avoid  the  worst 
of  it,  for  there  is  a  separate  door  or  gate  arranged  in 
the  interest  of  those  who  hold  tickets  for  the  shade. 
Once  inside  they  find  their  way  to  the  reserved 
Beats,  and  Jack  has  time  to  look  around  him. 

He  sees  an  immense  amphitheater,  circular  in 
shape,  with  the  arena  in  the  center.  Around  this 
the  seats  arise  in  successive  tiers.  The  place  will 
seat  perhaps  fifteen  thousand,  and  to-day  there  will 
be  standing  room  only,  for  the  battle  is  to  be  a  royal 
one. 

Around  the  arena  is  a  small  wall  of  boards  for  the 
hunted  chulos  to  leap  over  when  pursued  by  the  bull, 
and  to  protect  the  spectators  in  case  the  maddened 
animal  should  plunge  over  this ;  just  a  li  tie  way  be 
yond  is  a  sturdy  barrier  as  high  as  a  man's  head. 

Music  sounds  upon  the  air,  and  a  military  band 
dashes  off  some  popular  airs  that  make  the  pulse 
beat  quicker.  The  scene  is  a  gay  one,  not  like  a 
gathering  in  our  land,  where  men  dress  in  black  or 
gray.  Here  the  natives  appear  in  gaudy  colors, 
men  as  well  as  women,  and  the  effect  of  this,  added 
to  by  the  uniforms  of  hundreds  of  soldiers,  is  to  form 
a  scene  which  for  gay  holiday  appearance  we  never 
see  off  the  opera  etage. 

"Look  yonder,  senor,  we  are  favored  to-day,"  and 
Don  Carlos  points  across  to  the  left,  where  seats  are 
reserved  for  royalty. 

A  party  is  just  settling:  down,  some   nf   them  offU 


DVCTVB  JACK.  23 

eers  high  in  state,  and  among  others  Jack  becomes 
interested  in  those  who  wear  the  peculiar  red  fez  of 
the  Turk. 

"Who  are  they?"  he  asks— "the  Turks,  I  mean?" 

"One  is  the  Turkish  ambassador.  That  stout  man 
vrith  the  decorations  on  his  breast  is  Abdallah  Pasha 
— he  won  his  medals  in  the  late  affair  with  the  Rus 
sians.  I  have  the  honor  of  his  acquaintance.  If 
you  should  desire  an  introduction,  senor,  I  can  ar 
range  it  later." 

Senor  Jack  hears,  and  yet  forgets  to  reply,  for  he 
is  staring  hard  at  the  Turkish  pasha,  as  though 
something  within  warns  him  that  this  man  will  cross 
his  path  soon.  Whether  he  has  any  reason  for  such 
a  belief  or  not  the  near  future  will  prove.  At  pres 
ent  Jack  takes  a  decided  interest  in  the  Turk. 

The  pasha  is  heavy  set,  with  a  face  that  bespeaks 
cunning  as  well  as  bravery.  He  is  a  man  with  an 
iron  will— once  his  mind  is  made  up,  all  the  powers 
of  the  earth  cannot  prevail  upon  him  to  change  it. 
Even  as  Jack  watches  him  the  pasha  looks  that  way 
— they  are  not  far  apart — and  finding  a  steady  gaze 
fastened  upon  him,  returns  it  with  a  scowl,  just  as  if 
in  the  American  he  has  recognized  an  old  foe. 

How  singular  that  these  two  men,  who  up  to  this 
time  have  never  seen  each  other,  should  instinctively 
hate  at  sight,  and  yet  soul  language,  speaking 
through  the  eyes,  its  windows,  has  communicated 
Jack's  aversion  to  the  pasha,  and  quick  to  take 
offense,  he  returns  the  challenge. 

Presently  Jack  looks  farther  around,  and  sees  a 
party  of  English  and  American  tourists,  who  have 
secured  seats  in  the  shade.  He  watches  this  section 
closely,  as  though  expecting  to  see  some  familiar 
face  appear.  There  is  even  a  wistful  look  in  his  eye, 


JAVtL. 

as  thougn  he  missed  certaiii  friendly  companions  of 
former  travel — perhaps  something  more. 

Then  he  starts  as  a  voice  near  his  ear  calls  out 
flowers  for  sale,  and  glancing  up,  half  expecting  to 
look  upon  the  beautiful  Catalan  girl  of  the  Barce 
lona  market,  he  sees  another,  who  takes  his  glance 
as  an  invitation  to  hand  down  her  wares,  so  pres 
ently  Jack  has  a  boutonaire,  one  for  his  companion, 
and  a  handful  of  beautiful  flowers  for  the  ladies. 

This  puts  him  in  mind — where  are  the  ladies,  in 
deed?  The  two  seats  still  remaiD  vacant,  and  it  is 
now  nearly  time.  His  reflections  are  suddenly 
brought  to  an  end,  for  the  ladies  have  arrived,  both 
dressed  in  the  regulation  Spanish  style,  and  wearing 
the  vail  down  over  their  faces ;  but  this  will  not  be 
for  long — when  the  toro  rushes  into  the  arena  they 
will  throw  back  those  gauzy  screens  in  order  to  see 
all. 

Jack  is  introduced,  and  rises  gallantly,  taking  the 
gloved  hand  of  each.  He  notes  that  the  senora  is 
rather  plump,  and  about  the  figure  one  expects  at 
forty,  while  her  companion  seems  to  be  a  modern 
Hebe,  her  outlines  of  ravishing  contour,  and  Jack 
somehow  thinks  that  if  her  face  corresponds  with 
her  figure  she  must  be  what  would  be  called  in  the 
rowdy  West  "a  stunner." 

He  catches  her  name— Mercedes.  Somehow  he  tag 
always  fancied  that  name,  and  there  is  something 
peculiar  about  this  meeting.  What  if  he,  the  cyni 
cal  old  bachelor,  who  has  mapped  out  a  life  of  sy 
baritic  comfort  and  ease  tor  his  futuro,  has  finally 
met  his  fate,  and  at  a  bull-fight,  too — the  last  place 
in  all  the  wide  world  he  would  think  of  looking  for 
the  angel  who  might  comfort  him  through  life. 

He  remembers  receiving  something  of  a  genuine 


DOCTOR  JACK.  26 

thrill  when. he  took  the  senorita's  little  hand,  and 
more  than  once  wishes  Mercedes  would  raise  her 
vail,  it  is  so  tantalizing  to  see  the  flash  of  wondrous 
eyes  back  of  a  shimmer  of  gauze,  and  imagine 
beauty  that  is  just  beyond  the  reach  of  one's  hand ; 
but  Jack  has  been  well  bred,  even  if  he  has  led  a 
wild  life  as  a  sportsman,  and  he  knows  he  must 
possess  his  soul  in  patience  a  little  longer,  when  time 
will  bring  its  revenge. 

So  he  enters  into  conversation  with  the  senorita. 
To  his  surprise  and  gratification  she  speaks  fair 
English,  with  a  peculiarity  of  accent  now  and  then 
that  charms  him.  Eagerly  she  discusses  each  theme 
he  advances,  and  almost  before  he  knows  it  Jack  is 
admitting  to  himself  that  Mercedes  is  a  bright 
scholar. 

Now  and  then  Don  Carlos  joins  in  with  some  re 
mark,  and  finally  speaks  of  Jack  having  among  his 
multitudinous  sports  enjoyed  participating  in  a  Mexi 
can  bull-fight.  The  ladies  are  interested  at  once, 
and  Mercedes,  perhaps  thoughtlessly,  declares  that 
the  bulls  in  Mexico  are  not  what  they  are  in  Spaink 
where  they  are  bred  for  the  purpose.  Jack  flushes 
a  little  under  the  thrust,  but  quietly  says : 

"The  bulls  we  use  out  there  are  running  wild  on 
the  prairies — great,  fierce  brutes,  full  of  fire,  and 
ready  to  charge  Satan  himself.  I  shall  be  better 
able  to  judge  of  the  respective  merits  of  the  differ 
ent  breeds  after  I  see  your  game  here." 

Then  the  conversation  turns  to  the  people  present, 
and  Jack  notices  that  his  companion  seems  to  be  in 
terested  in  the  members  of  the  Turkish  embassy,  for 
her  glance  wanders  that  way.  A  dim  suspicion 
enters  Jack's  mind  that  there  may  be  a  reason  for 
the  scowl  of  the  pasha,  but  before  he  has  time  to 


96  DOCTUK  JAUK. 

fully  turn  this  idea  over  in  his>  mind  something  oc 
curs. 

There  is  a  grand  burst  of  music,  followed  by  vivas 
from  thousands  of  throats,  'kerchiefs  are  waved, 
and  hands  clapped,  while  the  eyes  of  the  immense 
audience  are  fastened  upon  the  sawdust-strewn 
arena,  empty  no  longer. 

A  number  of  gaudily  attired  men  have  appeared 
in  the  court — some  mounted  and  others  on  foot — all 
nimble  looking  fellows,  who  seem  capable  of  choos 
ing  instantly  between  a  bull's  horns  and  the  board 
fence.  A  number  of  them  bear  the  scars  of  previous 
battles,  when  the  barrier  was  too  far  away,  or  the 
toro  too  speedy,  but  all  are  smiling  and  bowing  now. 
The  chulos  are  the  fellows  who  irritate  the  bull,  and 
divert  his  attention  by  scarlet  cloaks  when  he  is 
pursuing  a  companion  too  closely.  Picadors  on  the 
horses  are  armed  with  lances,  and  the  public  expects 
them  to  prick  the  bull  in  the  flanks,  show  dexterity 
in  doing  this,  and  avoiding  his  terrible  rushes,  and 
be  exceedingly  nimble  at  mounting  the  fence  in  case 
the  short  horns  rip  up  the  body  of  their  steed.  Then 
come  banderilleros,  whose  duty  it  is  to  stir  up  the 
fury  of  the  tired  bull,  and  goad  him  to  a  state  of 
frenzy,  after  which  appears  the  executioner,  the 
matador,  who  is  to  finish  the  scene  with  a  brilliant 
stroke  from  his  sword.  He  is  the  hero  of  the  hour, 
while  the  mob  has  shouted  itself  hoarse  up  to  this 
time  in  laughter  and  cheering,  a  death-like  silence 
always  falls  over  the  whole  amphitheater  as  the  bold 
matador  awaits  the  mad  charge  of  the  furious  brute. 

All  are  present  in  a  line,  facing  the  high  function 
ary,  who  represents  the  government,  the  captain- 
general  of  the  province.  To  him  they  must  mako 
their  obeisance,  and  a  proper  interchange  of  civiii- 


JAOX.  »? 

ties  then  takes  place,  after  which  the  official 
searches  in  his  pockets  for  the  key  of  the  toril, 
where  the  bulls  are  kept,  and  which  he  is  now  ex 
pected  to  throw  down  to  the  attending  alquazil,  who 
will  at  the  proper  time  let  the  first  bull  out. 

While  the  captain-general  is  thus  engaged,  and 
fifteen  thousand  anxious  hearts  await  the  feast  that 
is  soon  to  glut  their  appetites,  that  singular  Ameri. 
can,  Doctor  Jack,  spends  his  time  in  scrutinizing  the 
famous  matador,  whose  name,  if  not  as  illustrious  as 
those  of  his  old  time  predecessors  Montes,  Romero, 
and  Costillares,  still  has  a  magic  charm  about  it 
with  the  populace,  whose  idol  he  has  been  up  to  this 
hour. 

The  reason  of  this  lies  in  the  fact  that  as  yet  Pedro 
Vasquez  has  never  met  his  match  in  the  arena — no 
bull  has  avoided  his  fatal  thrust.  When  that  time 
comes — and  it  is  liable  to  arrive  at  any  hour — this 
same  fickle  audience  that  has  shouted  itself  hoarse 
in  his  honor  many  a  time  will  turn  and  rend  him. 
He  who  lives  by  the  sword  must  die  by  the  sword — 
the  plaudits  of  the  multitude  have  been  Pedro's  staff 
of  life,  and  they  will  be  his  doom. 

Jack  sees  a  remarkably  clever  figure  that  chal 
lenges  his  admiration,  for  he  is  not  the  man  to  dis 
parage  a  rival,  and  yet  there  is  a  certain  amount  of 
braggadocia  in  the  strut  of  the  matador  he  does  not 
like — it  is  a  trait  characteristic  of  the  Spanish 
character,  and  can  never  be  eradicated. 

Somewhat  to  the  surprise  of  the  American,  Pedro 
Vasquez  walks  over  to  the  fence,  vaults  it  with  the 
ease  of  an  accomplished  gymnast,  and  then  stands 
directly  beneath  the  Turkish  pasha,  who  leans  over 
the  railing,  and  enters  into  a  warm  conversation 
with  the  matador- 


IB  DOCTOR  JAUK. 

Many  eyes  are  turned  upon  them  as  the  captain- 
general  still  fumbles  in  his  pockets  for  the  missing 
key  of  the  toril,  growing  as  red  in  the  face  as  a 
turkey  cock.  It  is  evident  that  the  Turk  and  Pedro 
have  met  before. 

Imagine  Jack's  surprise  when  the  pasha  deliber 
ately  points  directly  at  him,  and  the  bull-fighter, 
following  the  Turk's  outstretched  finger,  looks  him 
straight  in  the  eyes.  The  American  feels  the  blood 
mount  into  his  face  as  he  sees  a  sneer  upon  the  coun 
tenance  of  the  Oriental  magnate,  and  realizes  that* 
he  has  been  pointed  out  to  the  bull-fighter.  Then  he 
grows  cool  again — he  is  too  old  a  campaigner  to 
allow  a  little  thing  like  this  to  upset  his  nerves  in 
any  way. 

All  the  same,  he  keeps  up  a  tremendous  amount  ot 
thinking,  and  wonders  if  it  is  the  stare  he  gave  the 
pasha  that  has  made  an  enemy  out  of  him.  What 
is  he  saying  to  the  matador — why  does  he  point  out 
the  American  at  all — will  Vasquez  publicly  chal 
lenge  him  to  a  duel  in  the  arena? 

Such  wild  thoughts  as  these  flit  through  his  mind 
in  an  exceedingly  brief  space  of  time,  and  he  has 
come  to  no  conclusion  with  regard  to  the  matter 
when  the  impatient  buzz  of  the  audience  changes  to 
a  roar  of  satisfaction,  for  the  captain-general  has  at 
last  found  the  obstinate  key,  and  tossed  it  to  the 
alqitazil. 

As  the  noise  subsides,  and  every  spectator  settles 
back  as  comfortably  as  the  limited  space  will  allow, 
the  blast  of  a  trumpet  is  heard,  which  is  the  signal 
for  the  entrance  of  the  toro,  the  hero  of  the  hour. 

Out  comes  a  red  bull  with  a  rush.  The  sudden 
change  from  the  gloom  of  the  toril  to  the  sunlight 
causes  him  to  stand  still  for  a  minute.  Around  him 


DOCTOR  JACK.  29 

are  walls  of  bright  colors,  streaming  banners,  and 
a  sea  of  expectant  faces — weird  music  fills  the  air — 
no  wonder  Taurus  is  amazed. 

Then  he  recovers,  and  is  himself  again. 

A  daring  chulo  flaunts  a  red  flag  in  front  of  the 
bull,  and  bellowing  with  rage  the  brute  tears  at  the 
ground  with  his  ugly  short  horns,  throws  the  dirt 
aloft,  to  the  delight  of  the  audience,  and  finally 
rushes  at  his  tormentors. 

Then  a  picador  jabs  him  with  his  lance  in  the 
flank,  and  draws  the  first  blood.  The  scene  in  the 
arena  at  this  moment  is  exciting,  and  very  pictur 
esque,  for  the  bull-fighters  all  wear  richly  embroi 
dered  vests,  knee  breeches,  gaudy  sashes,  with  silk 
stockings  and  slippers,  save  the  picadors,  who  have 
their  legs  encased  in  sheet-iron  in  order  to  secure 
them  as  well  as  possible  from  the  horns  of  the  bull. 

Around  wheels  the  red  bull,  and  after  the  picador 
like  a  flash.  In  vain  are  bright  colored  cloaks 
flaunted  before  his  eyes;  the  old  fellow  knows 
what  he  wants,  and  means  to  get  there  in  a  hurry. 

The  horseman  realizes  his  danger,  and  tries  his 
best  to  avoid  it,  but  his  steed  seem  panic  stricken  at 
sight  of  that  lowered  head,  and  does  not  obey  the 
bridle,  simply  rearing  in  his  mad  fright. 

This  suits  old  toro  exactly,  and  he  strikes  the  horse 
with  terrific  force,  hurling  steed  and  rider  against 
the  fence.  A  wild  shout  arises. 

It  is  "Viva  toro!  bravo  toro!"  now,  but  soon  the 
tide  of  public  opinion  will  change  against  the  four- 
footed  hero  of  the  hour. 

Fortunately  the  bull  stops  to  tear  up  the  ground 
with  his  bloody  horns,  and  the  dismoun  ted  picador 
clairibers  over  the  barrier  with  a  speed  that  is  ludi 
crous,  to  say  the  least.  His  steed  h«.«  received  the 


30  DOCTOR  JACK 

coup  de  grace,  and   the  rider   soon   appears  mounted 
afresh,  but  less  daring  than  before. 

Meanwhile  the  fun  goes  on,  and  one  can  easily 
discover  that  it  is  rare  sport  to  the  great  majority  of 
those  present.  Many  a  foreign  lady  •would  faint  at 
the  sight  of  a  horse  disemboweled  by  those  terrible 
horns,  or  a  chulo  tossed  among  the  spectators,  per 
haps  half  killed,  but  these  people  have  been  edu 
cated  up  to  these  things,  and  even  the  most  refined 
ladies  seem  to  enjoy  them. 

Each  occurrence  of  this  nature  is  greeted  with  a 
storm  of  applause.  Why  not,  when  they  have  come 
for  just  this  same  thing? 

The  red  bull  has  begun  well,  but  he  does  not  keep 
it  up.  The  picadors  are  mounted  on  better  horses 
than  ordinary,  and  have  little  trouble  in  avoiding 
their  enemy,  while  the  footmen  tantalize  and  badger 
him. 

How  mean  it  all  seems.  The  bull  is  the  only  brave 
creature  in  the  arena — all  the  rest  run  the  moment 
he  fixes  his  eye  on  them,  some  leaping  the  barrier 
at  the  slightest  provocation.  Jack's  sympathies  are 
with  the  toro,  but  he  knows  well  the  brave  animal  is 
doomed. 

Finally  the  bull,  seeing  how  his  enemies  fly  he- 
fore  him,  takes  up  his  stand  in  the  middle  of  the 
arena,  and  with  lowered  head  awaits  a  new  attack. 
His  flanks  are  covered  with  bloody  foam,  for  he  has 
been  wounded  several  times  as  well  as  ripping  up  a 
couple  of  horses  himself. 

The  enemy  gather.  Taurus  waits  in  cunning, 
sullen  humor  until  they  are  close  upon  him,  and 
then  makes  an  awful  rush  for  a  chulo  to  the  left. 
Alarmed,  the  man  flies  for  the  barrier,  he  seems  to 
know  nothing  of  the  tricks  a  cool-headed  man  mi  <bt 


DOGTOM  J.AC&.  31 

employ,  such  as  leaping  aside  at  the  proper  instant, 
but  thinks  his  only  chance  to  escape  is  in  reaching 
the  barrier  first.  It  is  a  fatal  blunder  for  the 
wretched  chulo. 

Jack  realizes  it,  and  yet,  strange  to  say,  does  not 
feel  much  sympathy  for  the  coward,  who  could  only 
flaunt  a  red  flag,  and  then  run  if  the  bull  winked  at 
him. 

The  friendly  fence  is  almost  within  reach  when 
the  toro  catches  up  with  his  victim.  There  is  a  cloud 
of  dust,  a  bellow,  and  the  form  of  a  man  is  seen 
whirling  through  the  air,  to  land  among  the  half 
crazed  spectators,  perhaps  dead,  surely  with  broken 
ribs. 

How  the  shouts  ring  out.  Such  a  toss  as  that  is 
well  worth  the  price  of  admission.  The  red  bull  is  a 
hero,  his  tormentors  jackals. 

In  the  whirl  of  excitement  Jack  suddenly  remem 
bers  that  he  is  sitting  next  to  a  lady.  He  hears  her 
clap  her  little  gloved  hands  with  the  rest,  and  her 
voice  cries  "bravo!"  Although  his  face  is  not  turned 
that  way,  he  sees  the  Turkish  pasha  looking  in  his 
direction.  At  first  Jack  things  it  is  at  him,  but  the 
strange  expression  on  the  other's  face  quickly  un 
deceives  him,  and  he  understands  that  the  pasha 
looks  beyond  him.  Ah,  it  must  be  the  face  of  Mer 
cedes  that  chains  the  old  Turk's  attention.  She  has 
probably  done  as  Jack  expected  she  would — thrown 
back  her  gauzy  vail  under  the  excitement  of  the 
moment. 

Somehow  the  very  thought  of  gazing  upon  her 
features  gives  Jack  a  strange  feeling,  so  that  he 
does  not  turn  instantly. 

When  he  does  he  looks  upon  a  vision  of  loveliness 
such  as  mig-ht  charm  one  sworn  to  hate  the  sex — it 


32  DOCTOR  JACK. 

is  a  genuine  Spanish  face,  but  one  that  Murillo 
would  have  loved  to  paint.  As  a,  rule  the  women  of 
Spain  have  beauty  to  boast  of — travelers  have  al 
ways  raved  over  this  fact — but  Jack  can  honestly 
say  he  has  never  yet  set  eyes  on  a  face  of  such 
ravishing  loveliness  as  that  of  Mercedes. 

He  gazes  at  her  as  if  entranced,  while  the  bull 
and  the  picadors  in  a  mad  race  engage  her  atten 
tion  ;  but  it  is  not  the  mere  fact  of  her  beauty  that 
causes  him  to  look  spell-bound.  He  has  not  forgotten 
that  exquisite  face,  and  is  ready  to  swear,  marvel 
ous  though  it  seems,  that  the  Catalan  flower  girl  of 
Barcelona  and  Sister  Agatha  are  before  him,  united 
in  this  girl — Mercedes, 


OOVTU&  JACK.  & 

CHAPTER  HI. 
"CARAMBA!  I  ADORE  A  BKAVB  MAN!" 

It  is  a  most  astounding  discovery  that  Doctor  Jack 
has  just  made,  and  he  may  well  be  excused  for  los 
ing  his  head  for  just  half  a  dozen  seconds. 

There  can  be  no  mistake.  Jack  is  ready  to  wager 
half  his  fortune  on  the  fact  that  he  is  gazing  upon 
the  face  of  the  Barcelona  flower  girl,  and  the  nun 
who  bathed  his  head  with  spirits  of  cologne  after  his 
encounter  with  the  Barcelona  mob,  but  this  does 
not  explain  the  deep  mystery  that  hangs  over  the 
affair. 

The  red  bull  tires  out  soon,  and  his  tormentors  re 
tire  at  a  blast  from  the  trumpet,  their  place  being 
taken  by  banderilleros,  who  advance  and  cast  thei> 
darts  unerringly.  Gaudy  streamers  and  rosettes  aro 
attached  to  these,  and  the  bull  soon  looks  like  the 
prize  cattle  of  a  show. 

At  the  same  time  something  of  fury  is  aroused  hi 
him,  though  he  almost  staggers  in  his  wili  rushes. 
The  torturers  have  done  their  work — the  trumpet 
again  sounds. 

"It  is  Pedro's  turn,"  says  Don  Carlos,  who  has 
been  an  excited  spectator  of  the  game,  and  in  his 
eagerness  almost  forgotten  that  he  has  companions 
at  his  elbow. 

The  great  audience  suddenly  calm  down.  No 
longer  shouts  arise,  not  even  a  handkerchief  i« 
waved  to  distract  the  attention  of  either  the  bull  or 
his  master,  who  steps  into  the  arena. 

It  is  now  that  a  man  appears,  and  that  excited 


JACK. 

throng  realize  the  fact,  which  accounts  for  the  sud 
den  silence.  The  matador  faces  the  bull,  and  re 
ceives  his  attack,  not  flying  from  it  as  do  the  other 
actors  in  the  drama.  He  is  the  star  of  the  combina 
tion. 

For  the  first  time  since  casting  back  her  vail  Mer 
cedes  turns  toward  the  American.  She  sees  the  look 
upon  his  face,  knows  that  he  has  recognized  her, 
and  places  a  finger  upon  her  scarlet  lips  in  a  way 
that  indicates — silence. 

"You  shall  know  all  in  good  time,  Senor  Evans/'' 
reaches  his  ear,  and  the  next  instant  she  is  pointing 
into  the  arena,  and  saying : 

"Look  at  Pedro  Vasquez,  Senor  American.  Did 
you  ever  see  a  braver  man?  He  stands  before  the 
toro  perfectly  fearless.  See,  he  waves  his  red  flag 
to  enrage  the  brute.  Watch  a  Spaniard  give  the 
coup  de  grace.  You  have  faced  the  half  starved  bulls 
in  Mexico,  Don  Carlos  says,  but  they  cannot 
compare  with  our  noble  brutes.  It  is  a  different  mat 
ter  being  in  front  of  that  bull,  for  instance,  sen  or.'' 

Jack  does  not  reply,  how  can  he  argue  with  a 
beautiful  lady,  and  vaunt  his  own  prowess,  too?  It 
goes  against  his  grain,  so  he  smiles  and  bows,  but 
inwardly  raves. 

Ah!  the  bull  makes  up  his  mind.  The  critical  mo. 
ment  has  arrived,  and  down  upon  the  brave  mata 
dor  he  rushes.  It  looks  as  though  the  ponderous 
beast  must  run  over  the  man  who  has  dropped  upon 
one  knee,  as  if  to  receive  the  assault,  his  straight 
sword,  with  its  keen  point,  upraised;  but  this  posi 
tion  has  been  assumed  only  in  a  spirit  of  bravado  by 
the  executioner,  who  knows  too  much  to  retain  it 
longer. 

The  little  red  muleta  held  by  the  left  hand  to  one 


DOCTOR  JAGK.  35 

side  engages  the  attention  of  the  charging  beast. 
With  glaring,  reddened  eyes  and  steaming  nostrils 
he  bears  down  upon  it. 

Master  of  his  trade,  Vasquez  has  his  Toledo  blade 
held  out  with  a  firm  hand,  his  eye  is  glued  upon  the 
spot,  no  larger  than  the  palm  of  his  hand,  between 
the  left  shoulder  and  the  spine,  where  the  point  of 
the  weapon  must  enter. 

Thousands  hold  their  breath  in  this  moment  of 
suspense.  A  miss  will  cause  the  reputation  of  the 
matador  to  suffer. 

Jack  feels  a  small  hand  clutching  his  arm.  It  is 
Mercedes,  who,  bending  forward,  hardly  realizes 
what  she  is  doing,  so  great  is  her  interest  in  the 
drama  below. 

Of  course  the  American  does  not  remove  that  hand 
— it  might  clasp  him  thus  for  hours,  and  he  would 
find  grace  to  bear  the  captivity. 

His  eyes,  too,  are  upon  the  scene.  He  watches  the 
man  with  the  gaze  of  a  connoisseur,  one  who  has 
been  there  himself,  and  appreciates  the  situation, 
which  most  of  the  spectators  do  not.  Vasquez 
has  a  smile  on  his  lips,  as  though  he  scorns  a  beast 
such  as  the  one  before  him  The  bull  has  reached 
the  flaming  engano  or  lure,  which  is  tossed  upon 
his  horns,  for  the  game  is  done.  The  point  of  the 
sword  has  touched  the  marked  spot  on  his  breast, 
and  the  very  force  of  the  bull's  onward  rush  drives 
the  blade  through  the  lungs  into  the  brave  heart. 

So  the  first  round  is  over.  The  bull  lies  on  the  saw 
dust,  blood  issuing  from  his  mouth,  and  the  vast  au 
dience  make  the  welkin  ring  with  cheers  of  "  Viva 
Vasquez!  Bravo  matador !" 

The  hero  of  the  death  struggle  regains  his  fatal 
sword,  wipes  it  upon  the  carcase  of  his  antagonist* 


36  DOCTOR  JACK. 

makes  a  low  bow,  first  in  the  direction  of  the  cap. 
tain-general,  and  then  all  around  the  amphitheater, 
after  which  he  starts  to  withdraw,  in  order  to  make 
himself  ready  for  the  next  encounter. 

At  this  moment  a  most  terrific  bellow  sounds 
from  the  direction  of  the  toril.  The  people  hear  it, 
and  congratulate  each  other  on  the  feast  yet  in 
store.  Pedro  Vasquez  stops  in  his  stride,  glances 
toward  the  toril  door,  shrugs  his  shoulders,  and 
passes  on. 

"Vaya  hombre!,"  cries  Don  Carlos,  rubbing  his 
hands  together  with  delight,  and  addressing  the 
American,  "you  shall  see  fun  now.  I  told  you  that 
black  bull  was  a  devil.  Even  brave  Pedro  does  not 
fancy  the  business.  Unless  the  varlets  weary  the 
animal  out  before  he  is  called,  it  may  go  hard  with 
him." 

A  team  of  gayly  caparisoned  mules,  with  tink 
ling  bells,  is  driven  into  the  arena,  and  the  bull  and 
dead  horses  dragged  out,  after  which  the  second 
scene  will  be  opened,  the  same  thing  being  gone 
through  with,  under  a  greater  or  lesser  degree  of  ex 
citement. 

While  the  arena  is  being  cleared  and  gotten  in 
readiness  for  the  next  engagement,  Jack  converses 
with  the  Spanish  girl.  He  notes  the  expressive 
glances  she  casts  in  the  direction  of  the  Turkish 
pasha,  and  a  light  begins  to  steal  upon  him.  He 
fancies  he  can  at  least  understand  the  sudden  en 
mity  of  that  worthy  in  the  red  fez,  who  has  been 
looking  upon  him  in  the  light  of  a  rival.  The  other 
matter,  concerning  Mercedes  and  the  flower  mart 
of  Barcelona,  remains  a  deep  mystery,  which  can 
only  be  solved  when  this  strange  girl  grants  him  a 
private  interview. 


DOCTOR  JACK.  87 

She  talks  almost  continually  of  Pedro,  and  more 
than  once  declares  that  she  adores  brave  men  in  a 
manner  so  pointed  that  Jack  is  puzzled  to  know 
what  she  can  mean.  He  does  not  understand 
women — h«  has  always  admitted  that  fact.  What 
is  this  charming  creature  hinting  at?  Does  she  want 
him  to  spring  down  into  the  arena  and  play  chulo, 
banderillero,  and  matador  all  in  one?  Thanks,  but 
he  came  here  to  see  a  show,  not  to  make  one.  These 
men  were  hired  to  amuse  people,  and  did  but  do 
their  duty.  Perhaps  at  some  future  time  fate  would 
be  kind  enough  to  give  him  a  chance  to  prove  his 
bravery  in  a  way  satisfying  to  even  her  Spanibh 
quixotic  ideas. 

For  the  present  he  is  well  content  to  sit  where  he 
is,  and  let  others  do  their  best  to  entertain  the  multi 
tude. 

The  mules  have  done  their  duty,  and  once  more 
the  chulos  and  picadors  ride  forward,  but  the  keen 
eyes  of  the  American  notes  a  lack  of  confidence  in 
their  actions — that  awful  bellow  has  frozen  the  mar 
row  in  their  bones,  and  they  fear  the  coming  en 
counter  with  the  fierce  demon  soon  to  be  let  loose. 

If  Pedro  Vasquez  has  anything  of  the  same  ner 
vousness  about  him,  woe  unto  the  matador  when  he 
comes  to  face  the  toro.  Patience,  and  we  shall  see 
in  good  time. 

All  eyes  are  bent  eagerly  and  hungrily  on  the 
door  of  the  toril,  whence  must  issue  the  second  bo 
vine  monster.  It  is  still  closed,  but  the  alquazil  has 
the  key  in  the  lock,  and  awaits  the  signal  to  whirl 
the  door  open,  after  which  he  will  leap  for  his  life 
over  the  barrier. 

Back  of  that  door  a  fearful  sound  is  heard,  like  a 
peal  of  distant  thunder  oft  repeated,  and  the  audi- 


3-  SHJCTOR  JACK. 

ence  catch  their  breath  as  the  conviction  strikes 
home,  even  before  they  see  the  bull,  that  here  must 
be  a  warrior  fit  for  the  steel  of  Vasquez. 

Ah!  the  trumpet  sounds,  open  flies  the  door,  the 
ground  seems  to  tremble  as  a  mad  bull,  black  as  jet 
and  ugly  as  sin,  sweeps  into  the  arena,  ready  to  do 
battle. 

Then  the  silence  is  broken,  a  whirl  of  furious  ap 
plause  arises,  and  the  black  terror  is  seen  in  hot 
pursuit  of  a  picador.  Vain  are  the  timid  attempts 
of  the  chulos  to  distract  his  attention.  The  brute 
keeps  one  object  in  his  eye,  and  pursues  it  with 
overwhelming  zeal. 

See !  the  horse  is  thrown  over,  gored  to  his  death, 
and  the  man  will  be  also,  for  his  fallen  steed  pins 
him  down,  but  just  in  the  nick  of  time  a  footman 
flaunts  a  scarlet  flag  before  the  bull's  eyes,  and  is 
presently  assisted  over  the  fence  by  his  powerful 
pursuer,  with  a  leg  ripped  open. 

The  fallen  picador  is  helped  out  in  time,  and 
meanwhile  the  black  bull  has  demolished  two  more 
horses.  Such  a  terror  has  never  yet  been  seen  in 
the  Plaza  del  Toros,  and  those  who  ought  to  be 
worrying  him  seem  themselves  only  worried  lest 
they  cannot  get  over  the  fence  fast  enough. 

Not  a  horseman  is  left.  The  animals  lie  upon  the 
sawdust,  downed  by  the  horns  of  the  sable  giant, 
while  their  late  valiant  riders  sit  astride  the  fence 
with  the  chulos,  ready  to  drop  back  if  the  bull  but 
winks  twice,  and  utterly  unmindful  of  the  jeers  that 
greet  them  on  all  sides,  accompanied  with  a  shower 
of  orange  parings  and  nuts. 

Undoubtedly  the  toro  is  master  of  the  situation  so 
far.  He  looks  around  him  to  make  sure  of  this,  and 
then  contentedly  chews  at  a  tuft  of  grass  that  ap- 


VOVTOR  JA(JK.  39 

pears  above  the  sawdust,  which  action  is  greeted 
with  shrieks  of  laughter  by  the  people,  who  declare 
this  noble  fellow  will  break  the  whole  bull-fighting 
community  up  yet. 

As  the  remnant  of  the  first  brigade  cannot  be 
bribed  or  forced  to  enter  the  ring  again,  the  dead 
horses  are  removed  as  best  they  can  out  of  the  way 
with  a  tackle  provided  for  this  purpose.  Thus  the 
ring  is  substantially  cleared  for  the  second  scene  of 
this  quick  panorama. 

Enter  the  bauderilleros  with  brave  mien,  bright 
ribbons  flying,  and  to  the  music  of  a  quickstep  by 
the  band.  Jack  imagines  that  unless  these  men  are 
extraordinarily  spry  the  same  band  will  presently 
have  occasion  to  play  the  Dead  March  of  Saul,  for 
there  is  blood  in  the  eye  of  the  bull. 

He  waits  until  one  of  them  plants  an  explosive 
dart  in  his  side,  and  then  starts.  Now  they  scatter 
like  a  flock  of  sheep.  First  this  one  is  chased,  arid 
then  that  other — such  is  the  rapidity  of  the  toro's  ad 
vances  that  the  men  are  bewildered  by  it. 

The  leader  is  crushed  against  the  planking,  and  a 
second  only  saves  himself  by  clinging  to  the  horns 
of  the  bull,  which  animal,  by  a  toss  of  his  powerful 
head,  sends  him  into  the  crowd. 

While  this  scene  is  taking  place  the  people  have 
forgotten  that  they  have  tongues.  The  equal  of  this 
ebony  king  has  never  been  seen  before.  He  strikes 
every  one  with  a  peculiar  feeling  of  alarm,  and 
some  timid  souls  are  even  contemplating  the  possi 
bility  of  seeing  him  tear  down  the  strong  barrier, 
and  proceed  to  demolish  the  whole  amphitheater. 

It  takes  Mr.  Bull  just  about  ten  minutes  to  dis 
pose  of  the  banderilleros.  He  peems  to  enjoy  the 
fun  about,  as  well  as  the  audience  do,  for  some  of  the 


40  DOCTOR  JACK. 

latter  have  found  their  tongues  now,  and  are  shout 
ing  to  the  brute  to  kill  the  cowardly  curs  who  dare 
not  face  him.  The  same  bravos  who  shout  could  not 
be  hired  to  remain  in  that  inclosure  for  half  the 
money  in  Madrid,  but  it  is  so  easy  to  sit  in  security 
and  guy  a  poor  devil  whose  teeth  are  rattling  to 
gether  like  castanets,  and  who  would  noi  if  he 
could,  and  could  not  if  he  would. 

Is  this  the  end? 

The  black  bull  remains  master  of  the  field,  and 
has  not  been  tired  half  enough  to  give  the  matador 
a  chance  of  killing  him.  Of  course  it  is  not  expected 
that  Vasquez  will  enter  the  arena  unless  men  are 
found  to  torment  the  bull  still  more  and  weary  him 
with  feints. 

The  management  attempt  to  expostulate  with  the 
dart  throwers.  They  will  sit  upon  the  fence  and 
cast  their  missiles  at  long  range,  but  threats  and 
bribes  alike  fail  to  induce  them  to  enter. 

A  low  murmur,  that  sounds  like  far  away  thunder, 
gradually  rising  as  the  storm  sweeps  near,  until  the 
moan  becomes  a  shout,  and  this  in  turn  a  tumult. 
Jack  asks  the  cause.  It  is  not  difficult  to  find. 

The  arena  contains  the  figure  of  a  man — Pedro 
Vasquez,  Toledo  blade  in  one  hand  and  scarlet 
muleta  in  the  other,  stands  there.  Brave  man,  he 
knows  the  awful  chances  he  takes,  but  by  no  sign 
does  he  show  fear. 

One  hand  is  raised,  it  is  to  quell  the  deafening  ap 
plause,  which  may  unnerve  him.  Wait  until  all  is 
over,  and  then  if  he  wins  give  him  what  he  de 
serves;  should  he  lose  he  will  probably  need  nothing 
beyond  a  requiem.  Instantly  all  becomes  as  silent 
as  death,  and  those  two  in  the  arena  face  each 
other,  the  man  cool  and  watchful,  the  brute  scrrp- 


DOCTOR  JALK  41 

ing  up  the  sawdust  and  dirt  with  one  hoof,  as  if  in 
defiance. 

It  is  a  picture  for  a  master. 

Mercedes,  with  clasped  hands,  gazes  and  draws  in 
inspiration — she  looks  as  though  the  man  in  the 
arena  were  a  god,  and  Jack  hears  her  utter  words 
that  thrill  him  like  electricity : 

"Caramba!  I  adore  a  brave  man!" 

The  tableau  is  broken. 

It  is  the  bull  that  makes  the  first  move.  The  ani 
mal  has  seemed  to  scent  new  danger  from  the  time 
Pedro  Vasquez  entered  the  arena,  and  at  the  same 
time  some  subtle  power  has  given  the  brute  to  under 
stand  that  he  now  faces  a  man  and  not  a  coward. 

Up  to  this  time  the  sympathies  of  the  vast  au 
dience  have  been  entirely  with  Taurus.  Deep  down 
in  their  hearts  these  Spaniards  respect  bravery,  and 
they  cheer  the  adversary  who  follows  up  his  blow, 
and  hiss  those  who  strike  and  then  fly  as  though  the 
Old  Nick  himself  were  after  them. 

Now  the  toro  is  in  motion  again.  He  comes  plung 
ing  down  upon  the  daring  matador  like  an  ava 
lanche.  Pedro  Vasquez  has  done  a  foolish  thing, 
and  he  knows  it,  but  perhaps  some  sneering  remark 
has  urged  him  on.  He  will  show  these  people  of 
Madrid,  he  swears,  that  the  Vasquez  of  to-day  is 
fully  the  equal  of  any  matador  whose  memory  is 
held  sacred. 

Even  the  American  is  forced  to  admire  the  man's 
grit,  though  he  expects  to  see  him  suffer  for  it.  In 
Jack's  opinion  the  Spaniard  has  not  the  proper  con 
ception  of  what  he  should  do  under  these  extraordi 
nary  circumstances,  for  never  has  Pedro  faced  a 
mad  bull  such  as  the  one  now  rushing  upon  him. 

"Fool!  fool!"  Jack  mutters,  almost  unconsciously, 


42  DOCTOR  JAUL 

and  then  he  sees  Mercedes  turn  and  give  one  quick 
look  into  his  face,  showing  she  must  have  caught 
his  words. 

Then  comes  the  collision — when  a  fast  moving 
body  bears  down  upon  a  stationary  one,  unless  the 
latter  gets  out  of  the  way  in  haste,  there  is  bound  to 
bo  a  smash-up.  On  a  railroad  the  lighter  engine  al 
ways  gets  the  worst  of  it,  and  indeed  this  is  gen 
erally  the  case  the  world  over. 

Pedro  has  depended  on  luring  the  bull  to  one  side 
by  means  of  his  flaunting  muleta,  dangled  out  with 
his  left  hand.  He  seems  to  have  taken  it  for  granted 
that  this  animal  will  follow  the  tactics  pursued  by 
the  last,  and  swerve  enough  from  the  course  to 
allow  the  planting  of  the  sword  point  upon  his  left 
breast,  when,  as  in  the  case  of  the  red  bull,  his  own 
velocity  will  do  the  rest. 

In  this  he  has  made  a  fatal  mistake,  for  the  on- 
rushing  animal  has  lowered  his  head,  and  keeps  a 
straight  course  for  the  man. 

A  mighty  shudder  convulses  the  crowd.  It  all 
happens  so  quickly  that  no  one  has  time  to  shout  a 
warning,  and  up  to  the  last  second  Vasquez  seems 
to  imagine  the  bull  will  swerve. 

When  he  realizes  his  mistake  it  is  too  late.  He 
endeavors  to  spring  aside,  but  has  planted  himself 
so  firmly,  with  outstretched  legs,  to  resist  the  shock 
when  the  bull  impales  himself  on  the  Toledo  blade, 
that  lie  loses  a  second,  and  this  means  all  to  him. 

The  man  gives  a  shout  as  the  horns  strike  him.  It 
does  not  seen.  i;k;e  an  expression  of  fear,  but  rather 
one  of  excitemen. 

Not  a  sound  has  hc^i  heard  in  all  that  great; 
amphitheater,  for  every  er*  is  glued  upon  the  arena. 
Finding  that  he  has  lost  the  garae,  the  matador  tries 


DOCTOR  JAGK.  43 

to  save  his  life  by  clinging  to  the  bull's  horns.  It  is 
a  most  deplorable  condition  for  him,  as  he  may 
never  again  be  the  people's  favorite  he  was,  but  life 
is  sweet  «ven  when  one  has  to  live  without  the  fa 
vor  of  the  fickle  public,  and  there  are  matadors  in 
the  audience  who  have  had  their  day,  and  strutted 
upon  the  field,  of  which  he  has  now  been  king  for 
some  years. 

The  neck  of  the  black  terror  is  all  muscle,  and 
when  that  awful  head  is  thrown  into  the  air  Pedro 
Vasquez  is  seen  flying  through  space.  He  strikes  a 
cruel  blow  upon  a  post  or  pillar  that  holds  up  the 
roof,  and  falls  in  among  a  number  of  chulos  grouped 
there,  who  immediately  bear  him  away. 

Immediately  the  vast  crowd  breaks  out  in  excited 
talk.  The  black  bull  goes  back  to  his  tuft  of  grass, 
and  stamps  viciously  as  though  asking  who  will  be 
the  next  victim. 

There  is  generally  a  reserve  matador,  and  the  peo 
ple  wait  to  see  him  appear,  but  time  passes,  and  the 
bull  alone  holds  the  arena. 

It  grows  monotonous. 

News  has  come  that  although  Pedro  Vasquez  will 
live,  he  has  been  so  thoroughly  knocked  out  that  he 
could  not  stand  up  again  this  day  before  a  yearling 
bull. 

What  now?  The  management  apparently  have 
made  no  preparation  for  an  emergency  of  thH 
character.  The  people  must  be  amused,  but  who 
will  tindertake  the  job?  After  what  has  passed,  it  is 
all  a  man's  life  is  worth  to  enter  the  arena  with  that 
sable  monster,  be  he  chulo,  picador,  or  matador. 

What  is  that?     Some  Englishmen  and  Americans, 
delighting  in  fair  play,  are    shouting   "Viva   toro 
Bravo!  old  boy!     Well  done!" 


44  DOCTOR  JAGS. 

Somehow  the  words  exasperate  the  Spaniards, 
whose  sympathies  have  been  with  Vasquez.  They 
look  at  each  other,  and  scowl.  More  than  one  friend 
of  the  matador  touches  his  knife  in  a  significant  man 
ner. 

Ah!  here  is  the  gentleman  who  represents  the 
management.  He  advances  upon  a  little  elevated 
platform,  and  holds  up  his  hand.  It  is  evident  he 
desires  to  speak. 

"Silenzio  !"  passes  the  word  around,  and  in  a  min 
ute  so  quiet  is  it  that  one  can  hear  every  word  the 
manager  utters.  He  speaks  in  Spanish,  of  course, 
and  in  a  loud  voice. 

First  of  all  ha  tells  of  Pedro's  condition,  then  of 
the  refusal  of  the  substitute  to  enter  the  ring  with 
that  mad  devil,  and  deplores  the  fact  that  there  is 
no  man  brave  enough  to  make  the  attempt  pro  bono 


Turning,  so  that  he  faces  the  foreigners  who  have 
been  shouting  so  loudly,  he  continues  : 

"The  management  offers  two  hundred  pesos  to  tiie 
man  who  will  enter  the  arena  and  slay  that  toro 
with  the  matador's  blow.  Don't  all  speak  at  once, 
senors,  I  beg." 

This  is  a  thrust  at  the  vaunted  courage  of  the 
foreigners  who  could  laugh  to  see  a  brave  matador 
meet  his  fate.  The  men  look  at  each  other,  and 
smile.  Each  generously  declines  to  take  away  this 
pleasure  from  his  companions.  As  a  consequence,  no 
one  arises;  seeing  which,  some  of  the  Spaniards  in 
the  sun  seats  begin  to  laugh. 

Jack  feels  a  pair  of  midnight  eyes  upon  him,  tha 
color  mounts  to  his  face,  and,  turning,  he  looks  at 
Mercedes.  Her  words  seem  before  him  in  letters  of 
fire  —  "Carambaf  I  adore  a  brave  roan!"  Somehow 


DOCTOR  JACK.  45 

the  challenge  seems  to  have  been  dropped  at  his 
feet- -he  must  either  pick  it  up  or  decline. 

The  manager  still  stands  011  his  platform  looking 
around,  as  if  hoping  that  some  old  matador  may 
deem  the  golden  lure  of  sufficient  value  to  risk  his 
neck  for,  but  no  one  signifies  such  an  intention. 

When  Jack  Evans  arises  from  his  seat  and  takes 
off  his  coat  almost  every  eye  is  instantly  glued  upon 
him.  He  folds  his  outer  garment,  and  lays  it  on  the 
seat ;  then,  with  a  smile,  stands  upon  the  railing, 
takes  one  look  at  Mercedes,  sees  the  surprise  and 
consternation  on  her  face,  for  she  has  never  ex 
pected  this,  and  calls  out  in  Spanish  to  the  manager: 

"Senor,  I  accept  your  offer.  If  I  earn  the  pesos 
give  them  to  the  poor.  I  am  an  American,  and  I 
will  show  you  how  we  do  this  thing  out  in  Mexico.*' 

"Hurrah  for  Doctor  Jack!"  cries  a  voice  from  the 
foreign  quarter — an  acquaintance  has  recognized 
him. 

Jack  drops  lightly  over  the  barrier,  and  stands  in 
the  arena,  alone  with  the  black  devil  of  a  toro  that 
has  been  playing  such  havoc  with  the  regular  stock 
company  of  bull-fighters. 


46  DOCTOR  JACK. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

THE    LITTLE    ENGAGEMENT    OF    DOCTOR    JACK  AND 
SENOR  TORO. 

Admiration  for  braver}'  is  not  confined  to  civilized 
races.  Even  the  most  savage  people  of  the  world  re 
spect  those  qualities  in  a  man  which  induce  him  to 
face  death  without  flinching,  whether  in  front  of  a 
mad  bull  or  as  a  captive  tied  to  the  stake  with  the 
funeral  pyre  about  him. 

Hence  it  is  that  at  the  conclusion  of  the  daring 
American's  speech  a  buzz  goes  around  the  whole 
amphitheater,  which  quickly  swells  into  a  tremen 
dous  roar,  for,  although  his  words  in  accepting  the 
open  challenge  may  not  have  been  understood  by  the 
majority  of  those  present,  there  can  be  no  mistak 
ing  his  action  in  removing  coat  and  vest. 

While  this  shout  still  makes  the  welkin  ring,  Jack 
has  dropped  into  the  arena,  lightly  scaling  the  inner 
barrier.  Then  a  sense  of  fairness  seizes  the  multi 
tude,  and  immediately  cries  arise: 

"StietunoJ  silenzio!  " 

The  roar  becomes  a  rushing  stream,  and  this  in 
turn  a  gurgling  brook,  until  almost  magically  even 
the  last  sounds  cease,  and  a  death-like  silence  en 
sues. 

Fifteen  thousand  human  beings  have  their  eyes 
riveted  upon  the  form  of  the  American  gymnast. 
They  seem  to  breathe  as  one  man,  waiting  for  the 
shock.  Doctor  Jack  keeps  his  wits  about  him,  and 
surely  he  has  need  of  them  with  that  black  devil  of 
a  mad  toro  not  more  than  twenty  feet  away. 


DOCTOR  JACK.  47 

He  forgets  the  presence  of  the  crazy  mob  that  fills 
the  amphitheater  to  overflowing.  A  pair  of  black 
eyes  have  sent  him  into  the  arena,  and  he  remem 
bers  only  this. 

His  manner  excites  admiration,  he  is  so  cool  and 
collected,  and  the  majority  of  the  good  people  of 
Madrid  present  secretly  wish  he  may  be  successful, 
but  there  are  few  who  do  not  fully  expect  the 
stranger  to  be  demolished  at  the  first  desperate  on 
slaught  of  the  animal,  for  when  a  man  with  the 
prestige  of  Pedro  Vasquez  is  tossed  out  of  the  arena 
it  seems  like  madness  for  an  amateur  to  have  a  liv 
ing  chance,  no  matter  how  brave  he  may  be. 

Hardly  has  Doctor  Jack  gained  the  arena  than  a 
clattering  sound  is  heard  beside  him,  and  turning  his 
head,  he  sees  the  muleta,  or  red  flag  of  the  matador, 
together  with  his  sword,  lying  near  by.  Bending 
down,  he  takes  both  into  his  hands,  tests  the  quality 
of  the  Toledo  blade  in  bending  it  by  main  strength, 
and  finds  it  a  remarkable  weapon,  which  has  served 
Pedro  in  many  a  successful  bout,  and  finally  makes 
a  bow,  not  in  the  direction  of  the  representative  of 
royalty,  but  squarely  intended  for  the  black-eyed 
damsel  whose  words  have  oeen  the  means  of  send 
ing  him  upon  such  a  quixotic  errand. 

All  this  consumes  but  a  few  seconds  of  time.  The 
black  toro  has  divined,  from  the  rush  of  applause 
that  greets  Doctor  Jack's  action,  something  of  the 
truth,  and  has  even  ceased  chewing  at  the  lone  tuft 
of  half  dead  grass  growing  noar  the  center  of  the 
ring,  to  lower  his  head  and  dig  his  blood-stained 
horns  into  the  sawdust-covered  ground,  which  he 
tosses  up  in  a  horribly  suggestive  manner,  the  while 
uttering  those  peculiar  subdued  bellows  that  strike 
terror  to  the  ordinary  heart. 


48  DOCTOR  JACK 

Evidently  the  brute  sees  Jack,  and  will  presently 
descend  upon  him  with  the  fury  of  an  avalanche. 
At  present  it  pleases  the  royal  animal  to  play  with 
his  anticipated  victim  much  as  a  cat  might  with  a 
mouse. 

This  suits  the  new  matador,  for  it  gives  him  a 
minute  of  time  to  note  the  position  of  the  bull,  and 
what  impediments  there  may  be  in  the  arena,  for  a 
false  step  at  any  instant  may  cost  him  his  life,  and 
Doctor  Jack  is  not  in  this  game  as  a  reckless  fool, 
however  much  his  admiring  compatriots  in  the  for 
eign  quarter  may  believe. 

The  man  who  has  led  the  life  of  a  Texan  cowboy 
for  several  years  is  apt  to  know  something  about 
wild  bulls,  and  from  his  observation  Jack  is  certain 
he  has  met  just  as  fierce  brutes  in  Mexico  as  this 
sable  devil  now  preparing  to  demolish  him. 

One  thing  is  against  him — he  is  not  in  proper 
dress  for  such  business,  and  unless  exceedingly 
careful  may  slip  upon  the  bloody  tan  bark  or  saw 
dust  when  such  a  thing  will  be  fatal.  What  would  he 
not  give  to  have  on  a  pair  of  base-ball  shoes  at  this 
moment,  with  spikes  that  might  render  his  footing 
positively  sure? 

If  the  mountain  refuses  to  come  to  Mahomet,  then 
Mahomet  must  go  to  the  mountain.  The  bull  con 
tinues  to  toss  the  earth  as  though  he  expected  to  see 
bis  new  antagonist  make  for  the  barrier,  and  in 
truth  the  presence  of  the  chulos,  picadors,  and  ban- 
derilleros  perched  upon  the  fence  like  so  many 
crows,  with  one  leg  thrown  over,  ready  for  retreat, 
{.fives  good  cause  for  such  belief  on  the  part  of  the 
monarch  of  the  battle-field. 

With  a  few  rapid  movements  of  his  left  arm  Doc 
tor  Jack  unfurls  the  little  red  flag  then  he  advances 


DOCTOR  JACK.  49 

straight  toward  the  bull,  -which  ceases  to  plow  up 
the  soil,  and  gazes  at  the  other  as  though  deeming 
him  crazy,  lowers  his  massive  head,  and  shoots  for 
ward. 

The  tan-bark  flies  into  the  air  as  his  heels  spurn 
it.  Every  human  being  in  that  vast  audience  holds 
his  or  her  breath  in  anticipation  of  what  is  to  come. 
Is  that  a  shock  as  the  bull's  head  comes  in  contact 
with  a  human  figure?  A  cloud  of  dust  obscures  the 
scene  in  the  arena,  and,  confident  as  to  the  result, 
more  than  one  person  looks  aloft,  expecting  to  see 
the  American  whirling  through  space,  badly 
wrecked. 

Such  as  anticipate  a  speedy  ending  of  the  adven 
turer  confess  their  disappointment,  and,  turning  to 
the  ring  again  to  learn  the  cause,  discover  old  toro 
again  tossing  tan-bark  with  his  horns  while  the 
American  stands  there  taunting  him. 

Jack  knows  too  much  to  attempt  the  coup  de grace 
until  the  beast  is  in  a  more  exhausted  condition.  It 
has  been  a  fatal  mistake  on  the  part  of  Pedro  Vas- 
quez,  and  he  does  not  mean  to  repeat  the  blunder. 

A  nimble  leap  aside  at  the  proper  second  has  saved 
him  from  those  cruel  horns,  and  the  bull's  fury  is 
increased  doubly  by  the  fact  that  he  has  failed  in 
his  first  rush. 

Ah!  again  he  bears  down  upon  his  tantalizing 
foe,  as  though  determined  that  this  time  he  will 
crush  the  man  to  the  earth  or  assist  him  over  the 
barrier.  A  perfect  gymnast,  Jack  has  little  trouble 
in  avoiding  the  onslaught,  and  but  for  the  ever  pres 
ent  danger  of  a  slip,  might  really  enjoy  the  fun. 

While  the  toro  once  more  amuses  himself  with  the 
inoffensive  tan-bark,  Jack  coolly  takes  a  look  around 
the  amphitheater.  From  the  foreign  quarter  hand- 


40  DOCTOR  JACK. 

kerchiefs  are  waved,  and  cries  of  "Bravo,  Doctor 
Jack! "arise.  These  are  incautious  just  now,  and 
more  apt  to  disturb  the  brave  man  who  risks  his  life 
in  the  bull-ring  for  a  woman's  smile,  than  give 
him  new  energy.  The  Spaniards  know  better  than 
to  breathe  a  sound  while  the  matador  faces  his  foe. 

Jack's  sweeping  glance  takes  it  all  in.  He  sees 
the  eager  multitude  that  is  ready  to  shout  "Viva 
toro"  in  case  the  bull  downs  him,  just  as  it  will  ap 
plaud  victory  on  his  part,  but  makes  no  note  of  the 
swarthy  sea  of  faces.  He  lets  his  gaze  rest  an  in 
stant  on  the  Turksh  pasha,  and  notes  the  look  of 
fierce  eagerness  visible  there  that  tells  him  how  anx 
ious  this  man  is  for  the  bull  to  triumph,  then  his 
eyes  sweep  along  until  they  reach  his  own  vacant 
seat,  and  catch  a  glimpse  of  the  beautiful  girl  next 
in  line,  at  which  he  smiles  coldly,  and  bows  again. 

"Lookout,  Jack!" 

This  shout  comes  from  his  American  friend  in  the 
foreign  quarter,  and  warns  him  that  the  bull  has 
ceased  his  side  play,  and  is  once  again  on  the  war 
path.  Turning  to  receive  the  new  charge,  Jack's 
foot  slips,  and  there  is  danger  of  his  being  struck, 
but  quick  as  lightning  he  hurls  himself  out  of  the 
way. 

Again  the  multitude  breathe  easy.  They  recog 
nize  the  fact  that  this  man  is  no  amateur  bull-fighter, 
with  only  reckless  bravery  to  back  him  up,  but  one 
who  has  made  a  study  of  the  animals  in  times  past, 
and  is  qualified  to  anticipate  the  sable  brute's  every 
move. 

Thus  they  expect  to  have  pleasure  in  watching 
the  struggle  for  supremacy.  It  is  a  matter  of  su* 
preme  indifference  to  most  of  them  whether  the  bull 
eventually  slays  the  man  or  is  himself  downed,  so 


DOCTOR  JACK.  51 

long  as  the  combatants  afford  them  a  good  show. 
The  life  of  a  bull-fighter  is  held  very  cheaply  in 
Madrid. 

Already  has  Doctor  Jack  evaded  three  of  those 
wild  rushes.  Will  he  be  able  to  continue  this  system 
of  tactics  until  he  has  wearied  the  animal  out,  and 
brought  him  into  the  proper  condition  for  the  final 
blow? 

The  bull  no  longer  tosses  the  tan-bark  with  his 
horns.  His  challenge  has  been  met,  and  he  finds 
himself  opposed  by  one  whom  he  cannot  terrorize. 

As  soon  as  one  furious  rush  fails  the  brute  wheels 
and  makes  another.  He  is  continually  in  motion, 
and  it  seems  as  though  there  may  come  a  moment 
when  by  some  lucky  stroke  he  will  disable  his  nim 
ble  adversary,  and  change  the  tide  of  battle. 

As  yet  Jack  has  acted  only  on  the  defensive,  leap 
ing  aside  when  the  time  comes,  and  each  time  with 
rare  good  judgment.  He  has  not  received  a  scratch, 
and  although  the  bull  steams  and  puffs  with  his  tre 
mendous  exertions,  the  man  is  apparently  as  cool 
and  collected  as  when  he  began  the  engagement. 

For  the  first  time  the  people  awaken  to  the  fact 
that  the  awful  black  toro  has  met  his  master,  and 
when  Doctor  Jack  begins  to  assume  the  offensive 
loud  shouts  greet  him. 

As  the  lumbering  animal  rushes  past,  the  American 
plucks  him  by  the  tail,  and  gives  that  caudal  ap 
pendage  a  twist  that  elicits  a  fierce  bellow  from  the 
furious  bull,  drowned  by  the  storm  of  applause  from 
the  audience. 

After  eluding  another  charge,  Jack  pricks  the 
flank  of  his  foe  with  the  point  of  his  Toledo  blade, 
and  this  action  suits  the  humor  of  the  lookers  on, 
who  shout  their  approval. 


62  DOCTOR  JACK. 

All  danger  to  the  man  is  not  yet  past,  and  he  does 
not  deceive  himself.  This  brute  is  to  be  feared  until 
the  last  vital  spark  is  drawn  from  his  body.  Before 
that  time  comes,  Doctor  Jack  means  to  show  the  good 
people  of  Madrid  how  their  cousins  in  Mexico  carry 
on  a  bull-fight.  Instead  of  rushing  at  him  now,  toro 
advances  with  lowered  head,  as  though  hoping  to 
come  in  contact  with  his  foe.  He  has  become  blown, 
and  even  the  chulos  could  keep  out  of  his  way  now. 
Some  of  these  worthies  make  a  move  as  though  to 
leave  their  perch  upon  the  barrier,  seeing  which, 
Jack  roars  out : 

"Keep  back,  you  cowards!     This  is  my  game!" 

His  manner,  more  than  the  words  he  utters,  give 
them  warning,  and  if  this  is  not  sufficient,  the  storm 
of  hisses  from  the  audience  declares  that  such  inter 
ference  with  the  just  rights  of  the  bull-fighter  will 
not  be  tolerated. 

Doctor  Jack  has  tamed  the  beast,  and  his  must 
be  the  glory  of  the  final  sacrifice.  They  once  more 
climb  the  fence,  and  watch  the  work  of  the  man  in 
the  arena  jealously. 

Never  since  the  days  of  Montes  or  Romero  has  a 
Spanish  audience  looked  upon  a  scene  the  equal  of 
this.  Jack  is  determined  to  do  the  thing  up  in  good 
style  now  that  he  has  entered  the  game.  He  cares 
little  for  the  applause  of  the  rabble.  It  was  not  to 
please  them  he  sprang  over  the  stout  barrier  and 
faced  this  terror  of  a  black  toro,  but  he  hopes  Mer. 
cedes  is  satisfied  now.  He  seems  to  once  more  hear 
the  Spanish  beauty  say  with  that  expressive  glance, 
"I  adore  a  brave  man,"  and  a  warm  glow  thrills 
him  as  glancing  up  he  sees  Mercedes  watching  his 
movements  with  an  eagerness  she  makes  no  attempt 
t<>  disguise. 


DOCTOR  JACK.  53 

Again  comes  the  now  wearied  brute.  It  is  nearly 
time  for  the  final  stroke,  but  ere  delivering  it  Doc 
tor  Jack  ventures  upon  a  trick  he  remembers  playing 
in  the  halcyon  days  of  long  ago  before  an  audience 
in  the  land  of  the  prickly  pear  and  cactus. 

Waiting  until  the  massive  head  is  lowered  again, 
instead  of  springing  aside,  as  has  been  his  wont,  he 
places  one  foot  upon  the  broad  space  between  the 
short  horns.  The  animal  has  evidently  expected  to 
miss  his  enemy,  as  usual,  and  must  necessarily  be 
tremendously  surprised  at  this  movement.  Before  he 
can  take  advantage  of  the  sudden  opportunity,  Jack, 
with  a  light  spring,  has  vaulted  to  his  back,  where 
he  stands  for  a  few  seconds  waving  the  muleta,  to 
the  intense  mystification  of  the  puzzled  bull  and  the 
delight  of  the  Spanish  audience,  who,  forgetting  that 
the  brave  matador  is  a  foreigner,  give  vent  to  their 
approval  in  a  whirlwind  of  shouts  and  clapping  of 
hands. 

Then  Jack  drops  lightly  to  the  ground  and  makes 
ready  for  the  final  work.  He  knows  his  audience, 
and  how  far  show  goes  with  these  people  of  impulse, 
so  he  rolls  up  the  right  sleeve  of  his  shirt  for  busi 
ness,  showing  the  wonderful  arm  that  has  already 
this  day  elicited  words  of  admiration  from  Don 
Carlos. 

All  readily  guess  his  motive  in  doing  this.  He 
desires  to  warn  them  that  the  time  has  come  for 
serious  work,  and  begs  them  to  keep  silent  in  order 
that  his  attention  be  not  distracted  at  the  trying 
moment.  The  shouts  cease.  Again  an  ominous  si 
lence  spreads  about  the  amphitheater. 

The  toro  stands  near  the  center,  pawing  at  the 
ground  with  one  of  his  hoofs,  as  though  to  prove 
that  the  spirit  has  not  yet  been  entirely  broken  in 


54  DOCTOR  JACK. 

him.  Evidently  he  is  endeavoring  to  recoup  his 
broken  wind  in  order  to  make  a  last  gallant  charge. 

All  is  now  ready.  Muleta  in  one  hand  and  Toledo 
blade  in  the  other,  Doctor  Jack  advances  toward  his 
adversary.  The  scarlet  flag  is  waving  in  the  eyes  of 
the  bull,  and  tantalizing  hiui  to  his  death.  He  is  no 
coward,  and  the  stratagem  succeeds  perfectly,  just 
as  Jack  has  planned. 

As  the  American  slips  away  a  dozen  feet,  and 
waving  the  flag,  plants  himself  for  business,  the 
black  bull  lumbers  forward,  shorn  of  much  of  his 
former  activity,  but  still  determined  to  carry  the 
war  into  Africa. 

Not  once  has  the  red  flag  deceived  him,  and  on 
this  occasion,  too,  he  heads  direct  for  the  man.  Jack 
has  fully  expected  such  a  thing,  and  hence  is  not 
caught  napping.  Just  before  that  heavy  set  head 
reaches  him  he  steps  aside.  His  eye  has  marked  the 
spot  where  he  means  to  press  the  point  of  the  sword, 
and  the  forward  motion  of  the  bull  will  do  the  rest. 

An  inch  or  two  out  of  the  way  may  be  the  cause  of 
a  failure,  but  Jack  is  no  novice  in  the  study  of 
anatomv,  and  knows  just  where  to  find  the  heart 
every  time.  So  the  point  of  Pedro  Vasquez's  sword 
presses  upon  the  black  satin  skin,  vanishes  from 
view,  and  a  foot  of  the  weapon  is  buried  in  the  body 
of  brave  old  toro.  The  great  beast  pushes  on  a  yard 
or  so,  stops,  trembles,  staggers — a  mighty  shout 
seems  to  make  the  very  ground  quake — the  terrible 
bull  is  down — blood  issues  from  his  month — the  To 
ledo  blade  has  snapped  off  under  his  weight,  but  half 
of  it  remains  buried  in  his  quivering  body,  and  the 
deadly  point  has  undoubtedly  pierced  his  heart. 

When  danger  menaced  him,  Doctor  Jack  was  cool. 

In  the  midst  of   the  wild    plaudits  that   greet  his 


DOCTOR  JACK.  55 

valiant  -work,  lie  does  not  for  an  instant  lose  his  re 
markable  presence  of  mind.  Bending  down,  he  se 
cures  the  broken  sword,  places  one  foot  upon  the 
still  struggling  but  dying  animal,  makes  a  proud 
bo\v  in  the  direction  of  the  governor-general,  after 
which  he  lays  his  course  for  the  barriers,  leaping 
the  outer  one  in  a  manner  that  pleases  the  people. 

In  another  minute  he  has  regained  his  place  and 
resumed  his  outer  garments,  Save  the  fact  that  he 
is  breathing  hard,  no  one  would  see  anything  about 
him  to  tell  of  the  encounter  which  he  has  just  figured 
iu  as  the  leading  character. 

Don  Carlos  bends  over  and  squeezes  his  hand,  ut 
tering  warm  praises,  but  Doctor  Jack  hardly  knows 
whether  they  come  from  his  heart  or  not.  There  is 
a  something  in  Senor  Catalina's  eyes  and  face  that 
gives  the  lie  to  his  words. 

Mercedes  says  nothing,  but  if  looks  can  convey 
the  language  of  the  soul,  then  is  her  silence  eloquent 
indeed.  Presently  she  takes  her  little  lace  kerchief 
and  removes  a  speck  of  blood  from  the  face  of  the 
American,  who  had  gone  to  what  seemed  like  death 
because  of  a  woman's  whim — herself.  No  one  no 
tices  the  act,  for  a  new  bull  has  been  entered,  and 
the  clinics  and  picadors  are  goading  him — no  one 
— ah!  intuitively  Jack's  eyes  shoot  sideways  to  the 
seats  of  honor  given  the  members  of  the  Turkish 
embassy,  and  when  he  catches  the  black  scowl  of 
Abdallah  Pasha,  he  knows  that  this  day's  work  has 
gained  for  him  the  hatred  of  an  unscrupulous  prince 
who  will  descend  to  any  depth  in  order  to  win  the 
game. 

He  wraps  up  the  hilt  of  the  sword  in  a  newspaper 
which  he  takes  from  his  pocket,  intending  to  place 


66  UUUTUK  JAVA. 

it  among  his  trophies,  as  &  souvenir  to  remind  him 
of  this  affair. 

Shouts  arise,  for  the  scene  in  the  arena  is  the  old 
familiar  one  of  charging  bull  and  fleeing  chulos,  but 
the  animal  is  only  an  ordinary  specimen,  and  soon 
wearies  after  hurling  one  wretch  into  the  crowd, 
when  the  dart  throwers  appear,  cast  their  ribbon- 
decked  missiles,  and  decorate  toro  like  the  prize  cat 
tle  at  Christmas  time  in  Old  England. 

At  last  the  second  matador  comes  out,  makes  a 
bungling  stroke,  and  has  to  repeat  the  job  before 
he  succeeds  in  finishing  the  animal,  to  the  disgust  of 
the  audience,  who,  in  derision,  loudly  call  for  the 
American,  to  which  appeal  Jack,  of  course,  makes 
no  response. 

There  are  other  bulls  waiting  their  turn,  but  the 
spectacle  has  become  tame  to  many  in  the  audience, 
who  admire  bravery  such  as  the  American  has 
shown,  and  empty  seats  begin  to  become  frequent. 

Jack  himself  is  tired  and  disgusted  with  the  busi 
ness.  Still,  as  long  as  the  ladies  make  no  complaint, 
he  does  not  offer  to  withdraw,  but  welcomes  with 
pleasure  a  suggestion  from  Don  Carlos  that  they 
depart. 

The  arena  is  again  being  cleared  for  action  as 
they  turn  away.  Jack  notes  the  fact  that  the  Turk 
ish  embassy  has  also  departed,  and  the  thought  in 
his  mind  takes  the  shape  of  a  speculation  as  to 
whether  he  will  ever  look  upon  the  face  of  the  pasha 
again,  little  suspecting  the  strange  train  of  events 
that  lie  in  the  near  future,  and  which  must  bring 
them  in  contact 

They  push  through  the  crowd.  Jfivery  one  recog 
nizes  the  American  hero,  and  many  wave  handker 
chiefs  as  he  passes.  A  few  scowl  at  him  darkly, 


DOCTOR  JACK.  57 

Pedro  Vasquez  has  friends,  and  they  instinctively 
hate  the  man  who  accomplished  that  in  which  the 
matador  failed. 

The  exit  is  reached.  A  crowd  is  pouring  out. 
Jack,  in  the  jam,  endeavoring  to  protect  the  ladies 
as  much  as  possible,  feels  a  slip  of  paper  thrust  into 
his  hand.  He  does  not  know  who  placed  it  there, 
and  carelessly  slips  it  in  his  vest  pocket  tr  be  ex 
amined  at  leisure,  doubting  not  but  that  it  is  a  note 
from  some  amorous  Spanish  damsel,  who  imagines 
she  adores  him  because  he  has  been  too  agile  and 
shrewd  for  old  toro.  Jack  long  ago  tired  of  these 
little  affairs.  The  girl  who  wins  him  must  be  wooed, 
and  not  do  the  wooing  herself. 


68  DOCTOR  JAVK. 


CHAPTER  V. 


At  last  they  gain  the  street  crowd,  already  swollen 
by  those  leaving  the  pavilion,  and  as  the  word  goes 
around  that  this  is  the  brave  American  who  slew  the 
most  terrible  bull  ever  seen  in  Madrid,  and  deeded 
the  reward  to  the  poor  of  the  city,  murmurs  of  ad 
miration  arise. 

Don  Carlos  secures  a  vehicle,  into  which  they  all 
crowd,  and  soon  the  more  quiet  streets  of  the  Span 
ish  city  are  gained,  where  they  can  converse  at  leis 
ure.  The  elder  gentleman  speaks  again  of  Jack's 
bravery,  and  the  senora  joins  in  his  praise,  but  she 
who  was  the  incentive  for  the  act  says  never  a  word 
in  connection  with  it.  This  piques  Jack  exceedingly, 
and  he  begs  the  others  to  say  no  more — that  it  did 
not  amount  to  a  great  deal,  any  way,  as  he  has 
seen  bulls  even  more  fierce  in  the  land  of  the 
Montezumas,  which  remark  brings  him  a  quick 
glance  and  a  smile  from  Mercedes,  who  has  not  for 
gotten  what  she  said  when  comparing  the  animals 
of  the  two  countries. 

The  ride  is  continued  along  the  beautiful  Ca)le  del 
Prado,1  for  the  day  is  fine,  and  all  feel  an  exhilara 
tion  after  the  bad  atmosphere  in  the  Plaza  del  Toros. 
Just  opposite  the  museum  the  senor  gives  a  signal  to 
stop,  and  orders  the  driver  to  wait  for  them. 

Here  they  spend  quite  a  time  with  pleasure,  for 
the  museum  of  Madrid  contains  a  wonderful  collec 
tion  of  rare  paintings. 

As    usual,    quite    a    crowd    is    in     attendance — 


DOCTOR  JACK.  59 

strangers  in  Madrid  always  make  for  the  museum 
the  first  thing.  Here  almost  all  of  the  old  masters  are 
represented,  from  Rubens  and  Murillo  to  Eaphael, 
and  the  artistic  mind  finds  enough  for  a  long  con 
tinued  feast  to  cover  several  days. 

People  are  still  crowding  in,  coming  from  the  bull 
fight,  many  of  them  travelers.     A  small  admission 
fee  is  charged,  something  one  seldom  finds  in  the 
art  galleries  of  Europe,  though  the  attendants  must 
always  be  tipped. 

Jack  is  interested  more  in  the  lovely  woman  at  his 
side  than  the  pictures  in  the  gallery,  nevertheless  he 
manages  to  find  fault  with  several  masterpieces,  and 
express  a  plebeian  taste  for  modern  painting — bits 
of  exquisite  landscape,  especially  when  there  is 
some  animal  in  focus.  You  see,  Jack's  artistic  edu 
cation  has  been  neglected,  and  as  a  general  thing  he 
sees  through  the  eyes  of  the  nineteenth  century,  and 
not  with  glasses  three  hundred  years  old,  which  ac 
counts  for  his  love  of  nature,  and  repugnance  of 
gloomy  paintings,  no  matter  how  valuable. 

In  front  of  one,  however,  he  does  stand  entranced 
—it  is  a  Murillo— "Rebecca  at  the  Well."  Tha 
colors  of  garments  and  features,  the  well  with  its 
oucket,  the  maidens  in  the  foreground  with  their 
loveliness  of  form,  feature,  and  manner,  and  the  tur- 
baned  Oriental  attendants  farther  back,  attending  to 
the  camels,  make  a  bright  scene  that  holds  the  eye 
of  the  most  ordinary  observer. 

As  Jack  turns  to  make  some  remark  to  his  com- 
panion,  he  comes  face  to  face  with  the  man  whose 
glance  he  caught  at  the  bull-fight — the  Turk.  This 
time  he  gives  as  good  as  he  receives.  The  pasha 
stops  and  speaks  to  Mercedes.  Jack's  eyes  are  upon 
her,  and  he  notes  a  singular  fact.  In  his  rambles 


•0  DOCTOR  JACK. 

through  the  South-western  States  he  has  more  than 
once  seen  a  rattlesnake  charming  a  bird,  and  noted 
the  manner  in  which  the  poor  feathered  songster 
fluttered  near  the  reptile,  advancing  and  retreating, 
yet  lacking  the  power  to  break  the  spell,  and  bound 
to  fall  a  victim  unless  help  came. 

Somehow  he  is  impressed  with  the  idea  now  that 
such  a  scene  is  being  enacted  before  him.  Mercedes 
laughs  lightly,  but  there  is  something  in  her  manner 
that  betrays  concern,  anxiety — fear  of  this  man. 

In  the  ordinary  case  it  has  always  been  Jack's  plan 
to  shoot  off  the  head  of  the  serpent,  and  save  the 
bird.  Perhaps  he  may  have  an  opportunity  to  do 
something  of  the  same  sort  here  later  on ;  meanwhile 
be  will  keep  his  wits  about  him  and  watch. 

The  pasha  says  something  in  a  low  tone  to  Mer 
cedes,  who,  turning  quickly,  introduces  these  two 
men,  born  foes.  Both  bow  gravely,  but  neither  ex 
tends  a  hand.  The  pasha,  in  excellent  English, 
makes  a  remark  about  the  dexterity  of  the  Ameri 
can  in  regard  to  killing  a  bull,  and  what  a  foothold 
he  already  has  upon  the  ladder  of  fame  if  he  cares 
to  carry  on  the  business,  to  which  Jack,  unruffled, 
replies  that  he  had  rather  practice  his  skill  upon 
something  more  human  than  bulls,  and  has  a  mis 
sion  in  life  a  little  above  the  feat  of  living  upon  the 
plaudits  of  a  fickle  Spanish  audience  at  a  bull-fight. 

Just  at  this  moment  Doctor  Jack's  eyes,  in  ranging 
past  the  pasha,  fall  upon  something  that  gives  him  a 
start.  It  is  a  face — one  such  as  Murillo  would  have 
loved  to  paint. 

The  girl  is  not  a  native  of  Madrid.  Her  face,  light 
hair  and  wonderfully  bright  blue  eyes,  together 
with  her  costume,  and,  above  all,  the  way  in  which 
she  carries  herself,  stamp  her  as  a  New  Yorker.  It 


DOCTOR  JA(,R.  61 

is  generally  true  that  there  is  an  individuality  about 
the  New  York  girl  that  can  be  detected  even  by  care 
less  observers,  and  Jack  could  never  be  called  that. 

He  excuses  himself  to  Mercedes  for  a  few  minutes 
to  speak  to  an  acquaintance,  he  says,  but,  truth  to 
tell,  he  has  never  set  eyes  on  the  face  of  this  Ameri 
can  girl  before.  In  his  pocket  he  carries  a  photo 
graph,  and  watching  his  chance,  he  takes  this  out  to 
compare  the  face  with  that  of  the  stately  girl  who- 
saunters  about,  swinging  her  parasol  carelessly,  and 
seemingly  indifferent  to  the  fact  that  she  has  been 
separated  in  the  crowd  from  the  companion  who 
acts  the  part  of  duenna, 

"There  can  be  no  mistake.  I  wonder  how  she  will 
receive  me,  and  whether  my  story  may  be  credited. 
Well,  here  goes,  at  any  rate.  My  chance  has  come." 

It  is  easy  to  understand  now  why  Doctor  Jack's 
glance  roved  so  often  in  the  direction  of  the  foreign 
quarter  at  the  bull-fight.  He  was  looking  for  this 
face. 

Perhaps,  in  comparison  with  the  wonderful  fea 
tures  of  Mercedes,  this  American  girl  could  not  be 
called  beautiful,  but  there  is  something  better  about 
her  features — they  are  full  of  expression,  anima 
tion,  and  life.  One  might  go  a  long  way  without 
discovering  a  face  that  can  compare  with  that  which 
Doctor  Jack  fastens  his  eyes  on. 

These  two  are  the  opposites  of  nature  as  revealed 
in  womankind — the  one  with  olive-colored,  velvet 
skin,  magnificent  features,  hair  and  eyes  as  black 
as  midnight,  regal  figure,  and  the  jealousies  charac 
teristic  of  the  Latin  race ;  the  other  fair,  frank,  fear. 
less,  full  of  love  for  a  frolic,  tender  if  need  be,  but 
always  her  own  true  self.  What  a  choice  for  a  man. 

Such  a  thought  flashes  through  the  mind  of  Doc- 


ea  DOCTOR  JACK. 

tor  Jack  as  he  looks  at  the  girl  before  him,  but  time 
is  precious,  and  the  golden  opportunity  may  not  hold 
out. 

He  has  by  this  time  managed  to  push  his  way 
through  the  crowd,  and  is  now  close  beside  the  di 
vinity  from  Gotham.  Indeed,  if  he  but  chooses  to 
do  so,  he  might  touch  her.  Instead,  he  waits  until  she 
looks  his  way,  a  trifle  annoyed  because  she  is 
hemmed  in  by  a  group  of  natives,  and  her  silk  attire 
in  danger  of  being  crushed. 

Their  eyes  meet.  Jack  half  smiles,  and  is  amazed 
to  see  her  start  visibly.  Does  she  know  him?  Im 
possible,  for  he  has  never  before  met  this  girl  face  to 
face,  though  just  at  present  his  mission  in  Madrid 
seems  to  have  some  sort  of  connection  with  her. 

He  wastes  no  more  time,  for  surely  this  chance 
meeting  is  auspicious.  It  must  be  accepted  as  a  har 
binger  of  success.  Politely  bowing,  he  asks : 

"I  beg  pardon,  but  am  I  not  addressing  Miss  Avis 
Morton,  of  New  York?" 

She  freezes  him  with  her  look,  and  drawing  up  to 
her  full  height  replies: 

"That  is  my  name,  sir,  but  I  have  not  the  honor  of 
your  acquaintance." 

The  manner  implies  more  than  the  words  would 
signify,  and  some  men  might  have  been  abashed,  but 
Doctor  Jack  always  did  prefer  to  hunt  difficult  game, 
and  was  never  known  to  fish  in  any  well  stocked 
preserve,  snatching  his  trophies  from  the  wild  moun 
tain  brooks  and  lakes,  where  they  had  every  chance 
in  their  favor. 

Somehow  he  likes  Avis  Morton  from  the  word 
"go."  Her  looks  and  manner  charm  him.  and  now 
her  words  add  to  the  zest.  Here  is  a  girl  worth  the 


JAKK.  6* 

winning,  and  lucky  the  man  who  may  wear  the 
wild  rose. 

Jack  has  no  fear  regarding  his  reception  when  he 
tells  her  what  is  on  his  mind,  and  yet  he  does  not 
hurry  about  it.  Feeling  so  positive  on  this  score,  he 
seems  to  think  he  might  as  well  enjoy  watching  the 
various  shades  of  emotion  play  over  that  expressive 
face  before  showing  his  own  trumps. 

"We  have  never  met  before,  Miss  Morton,  but  in  a 
foreign  country  the  lack  of  an  introduction  does  not 
stand  in  the  way  of  people  becoming  acquainted 
when  they  hail  from  the  land  of  the  glorious  stars 
and  stripes." 

She  remains  as  frigid  as  the  Polar  seas,  and  proba. 
bly  there  is  no  one  who  can  assume  this  character 
with  more  hauteur  than  the  New  York  girl  of  so 
ciety.  Jack  looks  in  vain  for  some  sign  of  relent 
ing.  His  first  attack  has  not  been  a  very  brilliant 
success. 

"What  you  say  may  ordinarily  be  true  enough, 
and  at  some  future  time  I  may  be  pleased  to  know 
you,  but  at  present  I  am  in  search  of  my  good 
friend,  Madame  Sophie.  You  will  excuse  me,  Doc 
tor  Jack,  if " 

"Ah!  you  know  me!"  he  cries,  delighted  to  hear 
his  name  fall  from  those  lips. 

She  colors  a  little,  then  laughs. 

"Well,  to  tell  the  truth,  I  heard  the  gentleman  in 
front  call  out  your  name." 

"Good  gracious!  were  you  there?" 

"I  travel  by  the  old  motto  of  'When  in  Rome  do  as 
the  Romans  do.'  and  it  would  never  do  for  me  to 
talk  of  Spain  and  say  I  had  not  seen  a  bull-fight. 
Besides,  do  you  know,  I  actually  enjoyed  it  a  little. 


64  DOCTOR  JACK. 

Perhaps  away  back  I  had  Spanish  ancestors— who 
knows  ?'; 

Doctor  Jack  has  but  one  idea  in  view,  and  this  to 
keep  up  the  conversation,  for  although  Avis  has  de 
clared  that  she  must  not  stand  and  talk  with  a 
stranger,  like  many  of  her  sex,  she  does  exactly 
what  she  declares  she  will  not. 

Perhaps  this  is  due  in  part  to  the  singular  attrac 
tive  qualities  of  the  American  doctor,  and  the  fact 
that  he  is  a  countryman,  which  goes  a  great  way 
when  abroad. 

"Strange  how  I  failed  to  see  you  there,  when  I 
examined  the  foreign  booth  carefully  a  number  of 
times,  looking  for — an  acquaintance,'*'  he  slowly 
utters,  coming  very  near  a  slip. 

"We  came  in  late,  Madame  Sophie  and  I,  just  as 
the  manager  was  offering  two  hundred  something  or 
other  for  any  one  to  conquer  that  terrible  animal.  I 
assure  you,  Doctor  Jack,  I  felt  proud  when  you  ac 
cepted  the  challenge,  and  declared  the  fact  that  you 
were  an  American.  But  I  was  afraid  you  were  going 
to  your  death  up  to  the  time  you  began  to  play  with 
Taurus,  when  the  truth  managed  to  steal  through 
my  brain  that  you  were  a  master  hand.  Where  did 
you  learn  such  a  game  in  our  country?" 

"I  was  a  cowboy  in  Texas  for  several  years,  but  it 
was  in  Mexico  I  fought  bulls  for  amusement  and 
profit  combined,'5  he  replies. 

"Ah !  yes,  you  said  so  in  your  little  speech.  I  had 
forgotten — the  events  that  followed  confused  me. 
So  you  have  been  in  Mexico?"  looking  at  him  with 
some  admiration,  for  although  she  has  declared  that 
she  ought  not  to  talk  with  Doctor  Jack  withou*  some 
form  of  introduction,  or,  at  least,  the  presence  of  the 
duenna,  she  continues  to  do  so.  Truth  to  tell,  there 


JAVK.  65 

is  a  peculiar  magnetism  about  him  that  draws  this 
girl;  he  is  juot  such  a  brave  man  as  she  has  always 
declared  should  be  her  knight  errant  if  ever  she  had 
one. 

His  gallant  work  in  the  arena  has  put  a  seal  upon 
her  eyes,  and  she  does  not  see  that  which  she  would 
not. 

"I  was  in  Mexico  several  years  in  the  mines.  That 
is  where  I  made  my  money.  Besides,  I  have  roamed 
over  the  whole  world.  There  is  probably  no  country 
under  the  sun  where  I  have  not  hunted  wild  beasts, 
no  prominent  city  I  have  not  explored." 

"And.  I  presume,  with  the  usual  vigor  that 
characterizes  your  sex,  you  can  boast  of  a  flirta 
tion  with  a  pretty  girl  of  every  nation." 

Doctor  Jack  is  quite  taken  with  her  boldness,  but 
he  admires  chic,  and  laughs  in  reply. 

"What  would  you  have,  Miss  Morton?  I  have  an 
eye  for  the. beautiful,  and  admire  nature  in  what 
ever  mood  I  find  it.  They  tell  us  woman  is  the  love 
liest  work  of  all,  and  I  must  be  blind,  indeed,  not  to 
notice  what  is  patent  to  all  men.  Besides,  I  have  al 
ways  been  judged  something  of  a  connoisseur  of  a 
handsome  face." 

This  he  says  with  a  meaning  look,  but  Avis,  quick 
as  thought,  turns  it  aside. 

"So  I  perceive,"  with  a  glance  beyond  him  in  the 
direction  of  Mercedes,  "she  is  certainly  one  of  the 
most  beautiful  women  I  have  ever  seen.*' 

He  turns  red,  although  he  does  not  know  why  he 
should,  but  somehow  that  clear  blue  eye  seems  to 
confuse  him.  She  evidently  believes  Mercedes,  still 
talking  to  the  Turk,  to  be  his  latest  love,  perhaps  his 
affianced,  and  he  almost  shows  a  ludicrous  haste  to 
undeceive  her. 


66  DOCTOR  JACK. 

"Ah !  you  mean  Mercedes — Senorita  Gonzales.  1 
never  had  the  pleasure  of  an  introduction  until  we 
met  at  the  bull-fight.  Her  uncle,  Don  Carlos,  and 
myself  have  done  some  hunting  together  up  in  the 
Pyrenees.  Yes,  she  is  a  lovely  creature,  but,  do  you 
know,  I  prefer  a  being  of  a  fairer  mold.  These  Span 
iards  are  jealousy  condensed,  and  I  should  always 
tremble  for  my  life  if  wedded  to  one  of  them." 

"Ah!  you  would  have  to  give  up  your  flirtations, 
that  would  be  ail,"  and  a  killing  little  look  accom 
panies  the  speech. 

Doctor  Jack  finds  himself  upon  the  defensive,  and 
although  the  situation  is  a  novel  one  to  him,  he 
rather  enjoys  it.  One  will  accept  thrusts  from  a  cer 
tain  hand  in  preference  to  favors  from  another,  and 
although  ten  minutes  ago  Jack  had  never  set  eyes 
on  this  bright  New  York  girl  he  is  already  interested. 

He  disclaims  being  a  male  flirt,  and  vows  that  he 
has  pursued  the  wlid  game  of  forest  and  mountains 
so  earnestly  that  he  has  had  little  tune  to  look  after 
the  gentler  kind  to  be  found  ?n  towns  and  villages. 
She  changes  the  subject  with  an  abruptness  that  de 
clares  the  danger  line  to  have  been  nearly  reached. 

"What  possessed  you  to  enter  that  ring  and  risk 
your  life  to-day?"  she  asks,  her  eyes  on  his  face  as  if 
reading  him  through  and  through. 

Doctor  Jack  has  not  known  this  lively  girl  ten 
minutes,  and  yet  something  warns  him  to  beware. 
He  does  not  tell  her  that  it  was  a  woman's  smile 
that  urged  him  on,  a  woman's  eyes  that  caused  him 
to  take  his  life  in  his  hand  and  spring  into  the  arena. 
True,  Avis  Morton  can  as  yet  have  little  interest  in 
him,  but  he  is  too  shrewd  a  man  to  make  so  bad  a 
break  in  the  start.  First  appearances  go  a  great 


DOCTOR  JACK  67 

way,  and  he  means  that  this  American  girl  shall 
have  no  cause  to  remember  him  with  disdain 

"I  could  not  take  a  challenge,  that  was  all.     Be 
iides,  something  of  the  old  spirit  seemed  to  creep 
over  me,  and  I  wondered  if  I  could  do  the  same 
tricks  I  used  to  years  ago  in  Mexico." 

This  is  the  exact  truth,  and  yet  not  all  the  truth, 
for  the  challenge  Doctor  Jack  took  up  came  from 
the  Spanish  beauty  at  his  side  and  not  from  the 
master  of  ceremonies. 

"You  talk  like  an  aged  man;  you  do  not  look  so 
very  old,'*  she  smiles. 

"A  friend  asked  me  that  to-day,  enumerating  the 
countries  I  had  hunted  in,  and  all  that  I  had  seen 
for  a  ssore  of  years.  I  told  him  my  experience  made 
me  about  seventy,  while  in  actual  truth  I  lacked  by 
several  years  being  half  that  old,  I  have  been  a 
great  traveler— in  Asia,  Australia,  South  and  North 
America,  and  with  Stanley  in  Africa." 

Those  large  blue  eyes  grow  serious — they  still  rest 
upon  his  face  unconsciously. 

"1  have  always  been  passionately  fond  of  travels 
myself ,  though  it  is  only  the  last  year,  since  coming 
of  age,  that  I  could  gratify  my  whim  in  that  respect. 
Perhaps  some  time  you  may  tell  me  of  strange 
things  you  have  seen." 

"With  pleasure,"  Doctor  Jack  cries,  eagerly. 

"Oh!  I  forgot,  we  have  not  been  introduced — we 
do  not  know  each  other,"  laughing. 

"Humbug!  I  can  refer  you  to  a  dozen  gentlemen 
in  New  York,  belonging  to  the  first  society,  from 
Pierre  Lorillard  down,  who  will  vouch  for  me  as  a 
gentleman.  What  more  is  needed?  You  have  your 
self  seen  that  I  am  a  man." 

"Forgive  me.     I  only  joked.     I  would  rather  trust 


68  DOCTOR  JACK 

my  eyes  and  own  good  judgment  than  have  a  refer- 
ence  from  any  New  York  society  man.  They  may  be 
mistaken,  I  never  am." 

Somehow  Jack  sees  something  in  this  to  take  to 
himself  as  a  compliment,  and  he  bends  his  head 
toward  the  girl.  Her  eyes  are  on  the  crowd  around. 
It  is  evident  that  she  is  worried  over  the  absence  of 
her  friend, 

"I  wish  I  could  see  Madame  Sophie.  We  were  to 
meet  by  this  'Rebecca  at  the  Well'  in  case  we  be. 
came  separated.  The  only  thing  I  can  imagine  is 
that  she  has  met  Larry." 

"Larry?"  and  Doctor  Jack  unconsciously  takes  a 
sudden  alarm. 

"My  cousin,  Lawrence.  He  wrote  that  he  would 
be  in  Madrid  about  this  time,  and  was  bound  to  find 
us.  Larry  never  gives  up  an  object  he  has  in  view. 
You  would  not  think  it,  but  he  is  as  stubborn  as  a 
mule." 

Doctor  Jack  is  contemplating  her  while  she 
glances  arouncl,  and  meditating  upon  the  possibility 
of  this  self-same  Larry's  having  ever  taken  a  notion 
to  fall  in  love  with  his  cousin,  and  also  considering 
what  effect  his  being  as  stubborn  as  a  mule  would 
have  on  Avis,  who  looks  herself  as  though  she 
possesses  a  little  of  the  family  trait  in  the  shape  of 
firmness. 

A  low  cry  from  his  companion  announces  that  she 
has  made  a  discovery. 

"Why,  it's  the  pasha  with  whom  your  friend  is 
talking — Abdallah  Pasha." 

"Good  Heaven!  do  you  know  that  miserable 
Turk,  too,  Miss  Avis?'*  gasps  our  Jack — he  has  a 
reason  for  it. 

"I  met  him  some  time  ago  at  the  house  of  Lady 


VOU'TOti  JACK.  69 

Witherspoon,  in  London,  and  found  him  quite  an 
entertaining  talker,  and  educated,  too.  He  seemed 
quite  interested  in  me,  and  asked  about  my  plans, 
being  delighted  to  hear  I  was  coming  to  his  city, 
Constantinople. " 

"No  doubt.  These  Turks  are  good  judges  of 
beauty.  They  generally  have  a  score  of  wives," 
dryly  answers  the  American,  then  adds,  quickly: 
"Perhaps  you  would  like  to  meet  the  senorita?  I 
will  introduce  you  if  you  would  care." 

"Thank  you,  Doctor  Jack,  I  will  meet  her,  but  for 
goodness  sake  say  nothing  about — you  know — our 
never  having  met  before." 

"Believe  me,  I  shall  cause  them  to  believe  we  are 
old  and  warm  friends,"  and  as  he  turns  away  he 
glories  in  the  blush  his  words  have  called  upon  the 
New  York  girl's  fair  face. 

Presently  he  coims  up  with  Mercedes  and  the 
pasha,  who  still  lingers,  like  a  moth  about  a  candle, 
only  to  Jack's  keen  eye  the  simile  loses  its  flavor  be 
cause  of  the  suspicion  he  entertains  that  it  is  Merce- 
des  who  has  been  doing  all  the  fluttering  up  to  this 
minute. 

The  two  girls  greet  each  other  warmly,  but  that  is 
no  indication  of  their  real  feelings.  As  a  rule  the 
gentler  sex  are  better  actors  than  their  male  rela 
tions,  and  Doctor  Jack  looks  deeper  than  the  surface 
to  find  the  truth. 

He  enjoys  standing  there  and  comparing  these  two 
types  of  beauty.  It  is  astonishing  how  changed  his 
idoas  have  become  since  meeting  Avis.  Previous  to 
that  he  thought  Mercedes  the  loveliest  woman  he 
had  ever  set  eyes  on;  now  her  beauty  is  dimmed, 
and  hy  a  Yankee  girl,  who  makes  no  pretensions  in 
that  line.  Doctor  Jack  awakens  to  the  fact  that 


TO  DOCTOR  JAUK. 

there  is  more  in  expression  than  mere  beauty  of 
tour. 

They  chat  for  a  few  minutes  on  general  subjects 
To  travelers  there  is  always  a  host  of  things  of 
which  they  can  talk.  The  pasha  says  little,  and  de 
votes  that  to  the  ladies,  completely  ignoring  Jack, 
who  watches  the  Turk  out  of  the  corner  of  his  eye, 
and  grates  his  teeth  to  see  the  avaricious  manner  in 
which  he  surveys  Avis  Morton,  as  though  he  would 
£ive  her  weight  in  gold  to  convey  her  to  his  harem. 

Jack's  gloomy  thoughts  are  interrupted. 

"There  she  is — naughty  Madame  Sophie,  and  as  I 
suspected,  dear  Larry  is  with  her.  How  well  he 
looks." 

With  a  sinking  of  the  heart  Doctor  Jack  turns  his 
head  to  look  upon  the  man  whom  he  has  already 
get  down  as  his  most  formidable  rivaL 


VUVTOH  JAC&. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

"DOCTOR   JACK   MUST   NOT   LEAVE   THIS   HOUSE   AT 

EIGHT." 

Somehow  in  his  mind  Jack  has  pictured  Cousin 
Larry  as  a  good-humored  giant,  handsome,  and 
ready  to  anticipate  the  every  wish  of  his  fair  rela 
tive.  He  has  known  before  now  of  cousins  being 
brought  up  together  like  brother  and  sister,  and 
finally  discovering  that  the  world  was  too  small  to 
keep  them  asunder ;  and  although  he  has  no  reason 
for  believing  this  is  a  similar  case,  the  notion  appears 
to  have  entered  his  head. 

There  they  come,  making  gestures  that  they  have 
seen  Avis,  which  she  returns  eagerly,  the  crowd 
separating  them.  Under  such  circumstances  it  is 
only  right  that  the  giant  should  elbow  a  passage 
through  for  the  lady  in  his  charge,  but  as  Jack 
looks  and  gapes,  he  sees  it  is  the  latter  who  throws 
her  weight  against  the  barrier — she  is  the  entering 
wedge  that  divides  the  crowd. 

Cousin  Larry  does  not  loom  up  at  all.  He  is  con 
cealed  behind  the  ample  figure  of  the  madam,  but 
Jack  has  already  sighted  him.  and  an  amused  smile 
creeps  over  his  sun-burned  face,  giving  place  to  the 
look  of  concern. 

On  an  acquaintance  of  fifteen  minutes  this  is  get 
ting  to  be  a  very  serious  business  with  him,  but  then 
he  has  been  carrying  that  photograph  around  with 
him,  and  that  might  in  a  measure  account  for  the 
milk  in  the  cocoanut. 

In  another  minute  Madame  Sophie  rushes  up 
breathless,  and  hugs  Avis  with  as  much  enthusiasm 


72  ,  00CIVR  JAGS. 

as  though  they  had  been  parted  six  months  or  a 
year. 

"You  naughty  girl!  I  began  to  think  you  had 
eloped  with  some  one.  My  heart  was  in  agdiiy  until 
I  sighted  you.  Ah!  pasha,  is  it  you?  I  remember 
meeting  you  in  London.  Permit  me  to  introduce  my 
nephew,  Larry." 

Larry  is  a  genuine  New  York  dude,  small  in  figure, 
natty  in  dress,  effeminate  in  appearance,  with  his 
hair  parted  in  the  center,  sporting  an  eye-glass,  a 
heavy  cane  and  all  the  well-known  paraphernalia 
of  the  dude. 

Jack  is  at  first  inclined  to  think  him  a  fool,  but 
accustomed  to  Icokins:  beneath  the  surface,  he 
fancies  he  sees  something  there  that  Larry  hides  be 
neath  his  foppish  exterior.  Perhaps  the  stubborn 
qualities  of  which  Avis  has  already  spoken  are  not 
the  only  good  ones  he  possesses.  At  any  rate,  now 
that  his  inward  fears  of  Cousin  Larry  as  a  rival  are 
set  at  rest,  Jack  fancies  he  may  endure  the  dude, 
even  like  him.  for  her  sake. 

Naturally  Madame  Sophie  looks  toward  the  others 
as  if  desiring  an  introduction,  which  Avis  readily 
gives. 

"You  are  the  gentleman  who  upheld  the  honor  of 
the  starry  flag  to-day.  I  shake  hands  with  you 
because  I  adore  a  brave  man,"  says  the  stout  ma 
tron,  warmly,  and  Jack  starts  as  he  hears  the  identi 
cal  words  that  sent  him  over  the  barrier  into  the 
arena,  "but  Avis  calls  you  Doctor  Jack.  Is  that 
your  last  name,  or  have  you  another?" 

"My  full  name  is  Jack  Evans."  While  he  speaks 
it  the  American  watches  the  face  of  Avis,  and  is 
satisfied  at  the  little  start  she  gives,  proving  con 
clusively  that  the  name  is  familiar  to  her.  She  looks 


7? 

at  him  with  renewed  interest,  a  quick  scanning  look 
it  is,  mixed  with  a  little  wonder,  but  Jack  is  chat 
ting  and  laughing  with  Larry,  whose  affected  drawl 
and  English  ways  are  quite  amusing. 

The  pasha  excuses  himself,  and  walks  away,  but 
Jack  notices  that  he  speaks  a- low  word  to  Mercedes 
as  he  passes,  and  that  lovely  woman  shrugs  her 
shoulders  in  a  very  Frenchy  fashion. 

It  is  Jack's  desire  to  learn  where  the  American 
ladies  are  stopping,  so  he  puts  the  question  to 
Madame  Sophie,  who  replies  that  they  have  the  best 
rooms  at  the  Fonda  Peninsular,  near  the  center  of 
the  city,  where  its  life  is  daily  seen  in  the  grand 
plaza  known  as  the  Puerta  del  Sol. 

Mercedes  is  plainly  uneasy.  She  looks  often  upon 
Cousin  Larry,  who  stands  sucking  his  cane,  and 
saying  little  beyond  "bah  Jove!"  and  evidently  the 
Spanish  beauty  seems  to  think  he  is  some  new  beast 
on  exhibition.  Truth  to  tell,  Larry's  face  is  extra 
ordinarily  shaped,  and  shows  a  lack  of  human  quali 
ties,  more  resembling  the  head  of  a  fox,  from  which 
reason  Jack  judges  that  he  possesses  some  of  the 
cunning  of  that  animal. 

As  he  is  Mercedes'  cavalier,  he  must  obey  her 
wishes,  besides,  he  can  see  Avis  again,  and  what  he 
has  to  say  to  her  will  keep,  as  it  is  better  suited  to 
the  privacy  of  an  hotel  parlor  than  the  publicity  of 
the  museo. 

The  girl  is  watching  him.  She  has  never  once 
taken  her  eyes  off  his  face  since  he  mentioned  his 
full  name,  and  there  is  an  eager,  wistful  look  in 
those  blue  orbs,  as  though  she  longs  to  ask  some 
thing  and  dares  not. 

Doctor  Jack  rather  enjoys  the  fact  that  he  has  as 
sumed  a  new  importance  in  her  eyes,  but  he  has  no 


1*  MOTOR  JACK. 

desire  to  play  upon  the  subject,  for  there  are  grave 
memories  connected  with  it,  thoughts  that  stir  up 
every  emotion  within  him,  and  take  him  back  to 
scenes  in  the  past  that  he  often  wishes  he  could  for 
get. 

"The  senorita  no  doubt  desires  to  find  her  friends. 
I  must  say  good-day,"  he  says,  speaking  to  all,  but 
at  Madame  Sophie,  and  that  worthy  dame  replies 
quickly : 

"We  shall  not  call  it  good-by.  You  will  drop  in, 
and  see  us  again.  Doctor  Jack?  I  am  quite  proud  of 
being  a  countrywoman  of  yours  after  seeing  your 
gallant  action  to-day.  The  Fonda  Peninsular,  re 
member." 

Jack  looks  toward  Avis,  who  murmurs  something 
to  the  effect  that  she  too  will  be  glad  to  see  him.  He 
knows  it  now  that  she  has  learned  his  name,  though 
what  magic  there  may  have  been  in  that  does  not 
yet  appear. 

With  what  seems  to  be  more  ceremony  than  is 
necessary,  he  bids  each  one  good-by,  shaking  hands 
with  Madame  Sophie  first,  then  Cousin  Larry,  and 
last  of  all  Avis  herself. 

This  is  the  opportunity  he  has  looked  for.  The 
others  are  laughing  because  a  fat  man  has  become 
wedged  in  between  two  flanks  of  the  crowd,  and 
looks  pitifully  around  as  if  for  assistance.  Only  the 
dazzling  eyes  of  Mercedes  Gonzales  see  Doctor  Jack 
press  the  fair  girl's  hand,  and  bending  over  say 
something  in  a  low  tone  that  causes  her  face  to  light 
up  and  a  glad  look  appear  in  her  eyes. 

"I  shall  call  upon  you  this  evening  at  eight,  Miss 
Avis.  I  have  something  to  tell  you,  something  for 
your  ears  alone,  connected  with  one  I  knew  and 
loved — your  brother,  Aleck.  Shall  I  be  welcome?" 


DOCTOR  JAOS.  76 

And  looking  frankly,  fearlessly,  into  his  eyes  she 
replies  "yes." 

Then  they  separate,  each  party  resuming  the  tour 
of  the  gallery  in  different  directions.  Mercedes  is 
quick  to  note  a  change  in  her  attendant  cavalier.  He 
had  been  witty  and  full  of  life  before  this  meeting, 
and  now  he  has  become  preoccupied  in  mind,  so  that 
several  times  he  answers  some  sally  vaguely,  as 
though  his  thoughts  were  far  away. 

This  piques  the  Spanish  beauty  at  once.  There  is 
nothing  that  will  offend  a  woman  quicker  than  to 
see  that  her  attractive  powers  have  been  over 
shadowed  by  a  rival. 

She  m\y  not  have  cared  a  great  deal  for  Doctor 
Jack  before,  but  now  a  great  burning  passion  eats 
into  her  soul.  She  loves — the  spontaneous  growth  of 
this  plant  in  the  heart  of  a  Southern  woman  of  the 
Latin  races  is  not  uncommon.  Their  passions  are 
deep  and  sudden,  though  far  from  being  as  lasting 
as  the  slower  flower  growing  in  -more  temperate 
zones. 

This  bold  American  has  won  her  admiration  to  be 
gin  with.  He  has  braved  death  in  the  arena  for 
her  sraile.  Yes,  there  are  other  causes  why  he 
should  belong  to  her,  and  she  is  no  true  daughter  of 
Spain  if  she  sits  calmly  down  and  allows  him  to 
be  taken  from  her  by  this  girl  from  over  the  sea. 
Deep  down  in  her  heart  there  is  a  tumult  raging. 
It  beats  like  a  tempest  upon  the  shore,  surging 
high  at  times,  and  yet  above  are  fair  skies,  smiles, 
and  a  placid  countenance.  You  can  trust  the  intelli 
gent  girl  of  the  nineteenth  century  to  hide  her  emo 
tions.  She  does  not  go  about  with  her  heart  on  her 
sleeve,  to  show  how  it  has  been  riddled  by  the 
numerous  flirtations  of  the  past. 


f6  titHJTOK  JACK. 

At  last  they  meet  Don  Carlos  and  the  senora.  Jack 
catches  a  significant  glance,  which  the  former  ex 
changes  with  Mercedes,  and  once  more  the  suspi 
cion  flashes  into  his  brain  that  the  old  Spaniard  may 
not  be  the  warm  friend  he  has  believed  up  to  now. 

Mercedes  complains  of  being  weary,  so  they  pass 
out  and  enter  the  carriage,  which  soon  leaves  them 
at  the  residence  of  the  Spaniard.  This  is  quite  a  fine 
house  on  the  Del  Prado,  where  they  find  every  com 
fort. 

The  day  is  declining,  and  Doctor  Jack  is  invited 
to  dine  with  them,  which  he  can  hardly  refuse  to  do. 
Besides,  he  has  a  great  curiosity  to  fathom  that  line 
of  mysteries  connected  with  the  past.  Why  was 
Mercedes  disguised  as  a  Catalan  peasant  girl  in  the 
flower  mart  on  the  Rambla  at  Barcelona?  Why  did 
she  tell  him  she  would  be  at  the  bull-fight  in  Madrid? 
How  came  she  to  assume  the  character  of  Sister 
Agatha,  a  nun  from  the  cloister  of  San  Pedro,  the 
Benedictine  church  at  Gerona?  What  was  there  in 
common  between  this  wonderfully  beautiful  woman 
and  the  Turkish  pasha? 

All  these  questions  can  be  answered,  but  it  may 
require  time  and  patience  to  unravel  the  skein  in  its 
tangled  up  condition.  At  any  rate  it  gives  zest  to 
his  existence,  which,  up  to  this  period  in  his  career, 
has  been  prosaic  enough  with  regard  to  love  affairs. 

Mercedes  and  Don  Carlos  find  a  chance  to  have  a 
quiet  talk,  while  the  senora  entertains  Doctor  Jack, 
who  has  announced  that  he  will  dine  with  them,  but 
must  leave  the  house  by  half-past  seven.  He  will 
come  again,  and  stay  longer,  but  an  important  en 
gagement  demands  his  attention  at  eight. 

When  Mercedes  and  the  old  Spaniard  meet  in  the 
small  music-room,  her  black  eyes  are  full  of  resolu- 


DOCTOR  JACK.      .  77 

tion  The  other  laughs  and  pats  her  on  the  head  as 
a  father  might — he  is  her  uncle,  and  has  the  right. 

"How  do  you  succeed,  child?"  he  asks. 

"Everything  was  going  along  beautifully  until  we 
met  a  tall  girl  with  a  face — well,  I  am  not  fool 
enough  to  say  she  is  ugly,  but  certainly  her  looks  are 
poor  beside  myself.  I  know  not  where  he  ever  met 
her  before,  but  he  loves  her.  I  am  sure  of  it.  I 
could  see  it  in  his  looks,  try  to  disguise  them  as  he 
would.  Why,  at  times  he  seemed  as  though  he 
would  eat  her." 

Poor  Doctor  Jack,  is  this  your  wonderful  acting, 
when  a  pair  of  black  eyes  can  so-  easily  fathom  the 
secret  of  your  heart?  Don  Carlos  frowns.  What 
an  interest  he  takes  in  Jack's  love  affairs.  It  is 
surely  worth  something  to  have  a  friend  like  that. 

"Carissimaf  if  what  you  say  is  true  it  will  give  us 
trouble.  What  was  the  girl  like?" 

"Rather  tall,  queenly  head,  blue  eyes,  stylish  ap 
pearance.  She  was  with  a  stout  senora,  and  a 
monkey  man." 

"I  saw  them  at  the  museo,  and  admired  the  girl. 
She  was  what  Doctor  Jack  would  call  a  'stunner.' 
So  you  imagine  he  is  very  much  in  love  with  her?" 

"I  know  it.  Where  are  my  eyes?  They  were 
given  to  me  to  use.  Besides,  the  pasha  himself  was 
struck.  He  had  met  her  before,  and  I  think  from 
his  manner  he  would  give  her  weight  in  gold  for 
this  Senorita  Avis  could  he  find  her  in  the  slave-mart 
of  Constantinople." 

Don  Carlos  smiles  and  nods,  placing  one  finger  on 
the  side  of  his  nose. 

"Ah!  you  give  me  an  idea,  girl,  which  we  may 
yet  find  occasion  to  work  up  if  other  things  fail.  If 
thr*  pasha  is  struck,  we  can  make  use  of  him,  per- 


78  DOCTOK  JACK 

haps.  About  Doctor  Jack — yon  think  he  is  going  to 
see  this  girl ?" 

"I  know  it.   I  heard  him  say  so." 

"It  is  easy  to  put  some  one  on  his  track  and  find 
out,  if  yon  wish." 

Her  Castilian  face  darkens.  The  white  teeth  press 
together,  and  Mercedes  gives  a  laugh  that  is  not  so 
agreeable  as  usual. 

"It  is  just  as  easy  to  prevent  his  keeping  his  ap 
pointment,  uncle,"  she  breathes,  softly. 

"You  mean  to  claim  him?" 

She  shrugs  her  pretty  shoulders  and  pouts. 

"Vaya!  it  is  not  easy  for  one  to  confess  the  truth. 
I  shall  try  the  power  of  music  and  my  blandishments, 
but  I  fear  me  they  will  fail.  He  is  the  man  to  keep 
an  engagement.  On  my  part,  I,  too,  have  made  a 
vow.  Doctor  Jack  must  not  leave  this  house  at 
eight.  He  is  in  the  spider's  web — to  escape  now 
may  mean  ruin." 

She  is  intensely  agitated,  but  the  man  does  not 
seem  to  share  her  alarm.  He  is  not  in  love  with 
Doctor  Jack,  and  that  makes  all  the  difference  in 
the  world. 

"Bravely  said,  child.  I  admire  your  pluck,  but 
caramba,  we  must  not  let  him  see  our  hand  yet.  If 
he  insists  upon  going  we  Cannot  forcibly  detain 
him,"  he  muses. 

"You  forget — the  cigars!  As  a  last  resort,  if  he 
insists  upon  going  after  music  and  dinner  have 
failed  in  turn,  you  have  the  drugged  cigar.  It  will 
make  him  sleepy  and — well,  he  will  disappoint  the 
American  girl  at  eight  sharp,"  with  a  thrill  of  tri 
umph  in  her  voice  as  she  pictures  the  hour  passing 
with  Avis  waiting  in  vain. 


DOCTOR  JACK  7P 

"A  bright  idea,  girl.  I  have  that  cigar  up  in  iny 
room,  and  will  get  it." 

"Be  careful,"  she  whispers  as  he  moves  away. 

"Of  what?" 

"That  you  do  not  make  a  mess  of  it  and  smoke  the 
•wrong  cigar. " 

"Have  no  fears  of  me." 

While  this  side  play  has  been  going  on  in  the 
music-room,  Doctor  Jack  and  the  seuora  have  chatted 
in  the  Spanish  drawing-room  over  a  number  of 
things,  for  he  manages  to  temporarily  tear  his  mind 
away  from  Avis,  and  laugh  with  the  good  dame, 
who  is  genial  company  for  any  one,  and  amuses  Jack 
with  her  broken  English. 

By  and  by  they  speak  of  curiosities,  and  she  tells 
him  of  a  relic  which  has  been  handed  down  for  cen 
turies  in  her  family.  She  has  it  in  her  room  along 
with  her  beads  and  crucifix,  and  will  get  it.  So  she 
goes,  and  Jack  is  left  temporarily  alone  for  the  first 
time  since  he  was  intruded  upon  by  Don  Carlos 
while  at  his  morning  ablutions. 

It  is  an  opportunity  he  has  been  looking  for  these 
two  hours  back.  Half  a  dozen  times  he  has  re 
membered  the  paper  thrust  into  his  hand  by  some 
one  unknown  as  he  pushed  through  the  crowd  just 
outside  the  pavilion  in  the  Plaza  del  Toros.  Of 
course,  it  will  not  amount  to  anything,  he  is  sure  of 
that,  but  as  curiosity  is  not  confined  to  the  gentler 
sex  alone,  he  has  a  desire  to  see  what  it  is.  and  in 
order  to  have  a  minute  alone,  has  encouraged  the 
senora  in  the  laudable  ambition  to  show  him  her 
wonderful  legacy. 

Hardly  is  her  form  lost  to  view  than  the  American 
fishes  in  his  pocket  for  the  paper.  It  is  not  to  be 
found  where  he  expected.  Then  he  suddenly  remem- 


80  DOCTOR  JACK. 

bers  that  it  was  in  a  vest  pocket  he  thrust  it,  and  the 
fishing  goes  on  apace. 

Ah !  victory !  here  it  is,  and  now  for  some  silly 
gush  from  a  young  damsel's  heart.  With  a  smile 
Doctor  Jack  smoothes  out  the  crumpled  sheet  and 
casts  his  eyes  upon  it. 

The  characters  are  in  Spanish,  written  with  a  lead 
pencil,  and  evidently  in  a  hurry,  as  if  time  pressed 
with  the  scribe.  In  spite  of  these  defects  there  is 
something  even  in  the  chirography  that  tells  Jack 
the  writer  is  a  woman.  Holding  it  to  the  light  of 
the  window  he  reads : 

"The  American  senor  is  in  terrible  danger  from  an 
unseen  source.  More  I  dare  not  say.  Trust  no  one 
save  your  countrymen,  and  leave  Spain  as  soon  as 
possible." 

There  is  no  signature.  Whoever  this  friend  may 
be,  she  has  not  dared  acknowledge  her  identity.  You 
see,  Doctor  Jack  still  insists  that  the  writer  is  of  the 
feminine  sex. 

A  singular  idea  strikes  him.  He  has  just  been 
looking  at  an  elegant  volume  of  Cervantes'  work 
with  the  senora,  and  noticed  an  inscription  written 
in  the  front  of  it.  He  picks  Don  Quixote  up,  and 
opens  the  book  to  where  he  reads: 

"To  my  Uncle  Don  Carlos, 

"With  much  love. 

"MERCEDES." 

Now  he  has  what  he  wants,  and  laying  the  note 
beside  the  inscription,  he  compares  the  two  with 
calm  deliberation,  makes  allowance  for  the  studied 
work  on  one  and  the  hurry  visible  with  the  other, 
and  then  decides  positively  that  the  same  hand 
penned  both. 


DOCTOR  JAGK.  81 

This  stirs  up  the  waters  of  the  Siloam  pool  again, 
and  renders  the  situation  more  muddy  and  compli 
cated  than  before.  He  has  believed  that  if  there  is 
a  deep  and  mysterious  game  being  played  Mercedes 
is  in  it — his  Barcelona  adventures  tell  him  so — hence 
how  comes  it  that  she  sends  him  warning?  Can  it 
be  that  after  witnessing  his  feat  in  the  arena  she 
has  compassion  on  him,  and  desires  to  undo  her 
share  in  the  conspiracy? 

The  note  must  have  been  written  on  the  sly  while 
the  last  bull  was  engaged.  Doctor  Jack  remembers 
that  she  seemed  to  be  doing  something — he  thought 
searching  in  her  Spanish  reticule  for  bon-bons. 

Another  thought  comes  to  him,  and  causes  a  smile. 
This  note  was  written  before  Mercedes  set  eyes  on 
the  bright  American  girl,  and  perhaps  she  would 
not  carry  the  same  project  out  now.  Circumstances 
alter  cases,  you  know. 

Doctor  Jack  has  finished  his  scrutiny,  and 
imagined  half  a  dozen  different  theories,  when  the 
rustle  of  a  dress  catches  his  ear.  Is  it  the  senor,  re 
turned?  He  looks  up,  and  finds  Mercedes  herself 
standing  in  the  door-way. 

The  expression  on  her  face  tells  him  that  she  has 
been  standing  there  for  a  full  minute,  and  hence 
understands  his  action;  but  ever  cool,  he  is  in  no 
hurry,  deliberately  folding  the  note,  and  replacing  it 
in  his  pocket. 

It  is  on  Jack's  tongue  to  speak,  to  ask  for  an  ex 
planation  of  the  strange  warning,  but  he  gets  no 
further,  for  a  bustling  sound  comes,  and  the  senora 
enters  the  room,  proudly  holding  in  her  hand  the 
relic  of  antiquity  that  has  been  handed  down  from 
generation  to  generation  in  her  family  these  hun 
dreds  of  j' 


88  DOCTOR  JACK. 

Jack  pretends  to  show  great  interest  in  the  mat 
ter,  but  in  reality  cares  less  for  the  specimen  of 
early  days  than  for  a  piece  of  the  Sphinx  that  a  cu 
riosity  hunter  once  cautiously  showed  him,  and 
which  the  vandal  assured  him  solemnly,  had  been 
chipped  from  the  nose  of  that  giant  figure  by  his 
own  hands. 

No  opportunity  is  given  him  for  a  private  inter 
view  with  Mercedes  during  the  remainder  of  the 
evening,  so  for  the  present  those  mysteries  which  he 
longs  to  have  solved  must  remain  secrets  beyond  his 
reach. 

Mercedes  is  asked  to  sing,  so  they  adjourn  to  the 
music-room.  This  is  a  cozy  apartment  with  a  lean' 
ing  toward  Oriental  luxury,  soft  divans  for  loung 
ing,  and  draperies  that  hide  the  walls. 

There  are  many  musical  instruments  here,  from 
a  piano  and  harp  down  to  a  guitar  and  native  man 
dolin.  Mercedes  is  wise  enough  to  leave  the  former 
alone.  It  is  hardly  in  harmony  with  its  surroundings, 
which  are  decidely  Moorish  in  colors  and  Hangings. 

Seating  herself  at  the  harp,  she  strikes  a  few  sweet 
chords  that  enchant  Jack.  Then  in  a  low  voice  she 
begins.  Jack  has  heard  Patti  and  all  the  lesser  lights 
of  the  operatic  stage  time  and  again — he  loves  music, 
too,  and  is  a  little  inclined  that  way — but  never  in 
all  his  life  as  a  rover  has  he  listened  to  such  sounds 
as  fall  from  the  lips  of  this  Spanish  beauty,  never 
has  he  seen  so  lovely  a  minstrel. 

The  volume  of  melody  -is  at  times  like  a  mighty 
rushing  river,  and  again  as  if  it  were  a  laughing, 
gurgling  brooklet,  clear  and  grand.  The  theme  is 
the  old  story  of  love,  always  new,  and  as  Jack  lis 
tens  he  feels  the  strangest  sensations  creep  over  him, 
as  though  he  were  slowly  but  surely  being  charmed 


DOCTOR  JACK.  83 

Truly,  worse  things  might  befall  a  man  than  to  be 
loved  .by  this  wonderful  woman,  he  thinks,  as  he 
gazes  upon  her  lovely  face,  magnificently  formed 
arms,  and  sees  the  dreamy  passion  half  veiled  in 
her  black  eyes. 

This  will  never  do.  Unless  he  keeps  on  his  guard 
he  may  forget  himself,  and  be  drawn  into  an  en 
tangling  alliance  with  a  foreign  country,  which,  as 
a  true  American,  believing  in  pure  Jeffersonian 
principles,  he  is  averse  to  doing,  so  he  sets  himself 
to  watching,  and,  although  thoroughly  enjoying  the 
music,  does  not  let  its  sweet  power  overcome  him 
again. 

From  the  harp  Mercedes  goes  to  the  mandolin, 
and  as  the  daughter  of  Spain  trills  out  a  ditty,  Jack 
can  easily  imagine  himself  once  more  in  Mexico, 
listening  to  the  dark-skinned  beauties  of  old  Mon- 
tezuma's  realm. 

Soon  Don  Carlos  joins  them,  and,  as  he  mentions 
incidentally  how  Jack  used  to  to  sing  about  the  fire 
in  their  mountain  camp  of  an  evening,  Mercedes 
begs  that  he  will  do  them  the  favor  now. 

Jack  is  nothing  if  not  obliging.  He  has  a  fair 
baritone  voice,  in  fact  a  remarkably  good  one,  and 
can  use  it  well. 

So  to  Mercedes'  accompaniment  on  the  harp  be 
sings  several  Spanish  songs.  Then,  taking  the  guitar 
in  hand,  he  accompanies  himself  to  "The  Arrow 
and  the  Song,"  and  other  English  ballads. 

The  pleasure  is  mutual.  Their  surroundings  are  so 
quaint  that  the  melody  seems  to  have  an  additional 
charm.  Mercedes  notes,  however,  with  a  little 
frown,  that  more  than  once  this  brave  American 
takes  out  his  watch  when  he  thinks  he  is  not  ob 
served,  and  consults  it.  She  knows  he  is  thinking  ot 


84  DOCTOR  JACK 

the  engagement  at  eight,  and  consequently  of  the 
other  girl. 

This  causes  the  beauty  to  bite  her  lips  in  chagrin. 
The  music  has  charms,  but  even  these  have  failed  to 
make  Doctor  Jack  forget.  Surely  he  must  be  pretty 
far  gone  to  even  remember  that  there  is  such  a 
being  in  existence  when  under  the  beaming  eyes  of 
this  Spanish  houri. 

At  last  dinner  is  announced,  for  Don  Carlos  has 
imported  some  of  the  customs  of  the  English  into  his 
house,  his  business  bringing  him  in  contact  with  the 
islanders,  ami  taking  him  over  frequently  to  the 
tight  little  island  beyond  the  English. channel. 

Don  Carlos  offers  his  arm  to  the  senora,  so  there 
is  nothing  else  for  Jack  to  do  than  escort  Mercedes 
in  to  the  table,  not  that  he  has  the  slightest  objec 
tion,  for  any  man  would  have  been  pleased  to  have 
had  such  a  companion. 

They  loiter  over  the  meal,  which  is  well  served, 
thanks  to  the  English  ideas,  and  a  foreign  coot  the 
Don  had  imported. 

Jack  enjoys  himself  heartily,  but  he  is  at  the  same 
time  careful  about  taking  wine,  with  which  he  in 
dulges  only  in  limited  quantities,  and  then  only  with 
his  partner. 

As  they  arise  from  the  table  Jack  manages  to  £-et 
a  glimpse  at  his  watch.  It  is  twenty  minutes  past 
seven.  The  time  has  slipped  by,  and  he  must  now 
be  going,  for  if  he  leaves  the  house  on  the  Del  Prado 
at  half-past  seven  he  can  reach  the  Fonda  Peninsu 
lar  before  the  hour  set  for  his  arrival — eight.  He  is 
glad  now  he  had  forethought  enough  to  tell  the 
driver  of  the  vehicle  to  wait  for  him,  not  knowing 
that  Don  Carlos  afterward  went  out  and  paid  him, 


BOCTOR  JACK.  85 

saying  that  the  Ameiican  gentleman  had  decided  to 
remain,  and  would  not  need  his  services. 

Once  more  they  enter  the  music-room,  and  Mer 
cedes  is  about  to  resume  the  charming  strains  of 
melody  where  she  had  ceased  at  the  call  to  dinner, 
when  Jack  begs  pardon,  but  declares  it  his  duty  to 
leave  them. 

In  vain  they  beg  him  to  remain,  even  the  wonder, 
ful  eyes  of  Mercedes,  filled  with  pleading,  fail  to 
turn  this  inexorable  American  from  his  purpose.  He 
is  of  stone,  she  thinks,  piqued  more  than  words 
could  tell  at  her  signal  failure,  and  already  the  vol 
cano  within  threatens  an  eruption  which  even  the 
great  Vesuvius  cannot  eclipse. 

"At  any  rate  come  with  me  to  the  den  I  have,  and 
smoke  a  cigar  in  company  ere  going,"  says  Don 
Carlos  finally. 

To  refuse  such  a  request  is  an  insult  to  a  Spanish 
gentleman — even  if  the  gravest  of  evils  overhung 
one,  such  an  invitation  is  not  lightly  put  aside. 

Doctor  Jack  knows  this.  It  is  not  yet  half -past 
seven,  and  even  if  detained  to  the  quarter  of  eight 
limit,  an  extra  tip  to  the  driver  will  bring  him 
through.  Punctual  always,  he  thinks  of  all  these 
things  ere  he  replies  to  the  other's  invitation. 

"Certainly,  Don  Carlos,  I  can  enjoy  your  company 
for  some  ten  minutes  or  so.  I  am  sorry,  indeed,  to 
tear  myself  away  from  such  charming  company, 
but  duty  calls.  I  hope  to  renew  the  pleasure  at  an 
early  date." 

He  sees  the  face  of  Mercedes  light  up  as  he  begim 
to  speak,  and  even  intercepts  a  meaning  glance  she 
shoots  toward  her  uncle;  but  pretends  to  be  im 
aware  of  this  signal,  bends  over  her  hand  at  part 
ing,  gallantly  raises  it  to  his  lips  in  the  old  tirae 


66  DOCTOR  JACK. 

fashion  still  iu  /ogue  among  these  high  bred  Castil- 
iaus,  and  then  turning,  follows  Don  Carlos  out  of  the 
music-room  to  one  some  distance  beyond,  which  he 
calls  his  den,  but  which  just  now  is  to  b»  the  web 
that  the  American  fly  is  to  be  trapped  in 


THE  NIGHT  OF  THE  CARNIVAL 


JAGS. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

THAT  TERRIBLE   RIGHT  ARM. 

Jack  has  heard  about  this  "den"  before,  and  is  a 
lictle  curious  to  see  it.  He  believes  the  eagerness  of 
Don  Carlos  to  have  him  smoke  arises  from  his  desire 
to  show  his  snug  bachelor  quarters,  of  which  he 
has  spoken  more  than  once  when  they  camped  iu 
the  Pyrenees. 

The  snuggery  is  on  the  ground  floor,  and  looks  out 
upon  the  gardens.  Through  an  open  window  steals 
a  sweet  perfume  from  the  night  blooming  flowers, 
soon  to  be  deadened  by  a  stronger  odor  from  the 
noxious  weed. 

Around  the  walls  of  the  room  are  hung  a  thousand 
and  one  things — mementoes  of  the  chase,  pipes  from 
all  nations,  and  many  articles  in  the  line  of  bric-a- 
brac  which  a  rich  bachelor  with  a  leaning  toward  a 
sportsman's  life  might  pick  up  in  his  travels. 

Queer  things  there  are,  too,  but  Jack  has  even  a 
much  finer  collection  himself.  He  has  no  time  now 
to  do  them  justice. 

"The  first  chance  I  get,  Don  Carlos,  I  mean  to  spend 
half  a  day  with  you.  It  will  give  me  pleasure  to 
look  over  these  things,"  he  remarks,  taking  out  a 
cigar,  and  rolling  it  between  his  fingers,  an  action 
the  other  sees  with  considerable  apprehension. 

What  if  the  American  insists  upon  smoking  his 
own  particular  brand  of  tobacco?  He  has  known 
smokers  to  have  that  habit,  and  the  other  has  al 
ready  in  more  ways  than  one  proven  that  he  can  be 
a  very  stubborn  man  wnen  he  makes  his  mind  up. 


•5  DOCTOR 

"Notice  the  rug  at  your  feet,  Senor  Jack." 

"Ah!  yes,  the  bear  we  killed  up  in  the  mountains 
together.  He  was  about  as  tough  a  customer  as  I 
care  to  see,  but  the  old  rascal  serves  a  good  purpose 
at  last." 

Doctor  Jack  takes  a  taper  from  a  rack,  and  is 
about  to  hold  it  in  the  bla.ze  of  the  wall  lamp  near 
by  when  a  hand  touches  his  arm.  Looking  around, 
he  sees  the  senor's  face  close  to  him,  and  his  yellow 
fingers  hold  a  cigar. 

"Pardon,  Doctor  Jack,  but  in  my  house  you  must 
smoke  my  cigars.  That  is  etiquette  with  us  Spanish 
gentlemen,  you  know,"  showing  Ms  teeth  beneath 
the  black  mustache  as  he  smiles  in  the  American's 
face. 

"I  beg  your  pardon,  Don  Carlos.  1  should  have 
known  better,"  and  instantly  he  slips  his  own  cigar 
into  his  vest  pocket,  accepting  that  of  the  Spaniard, 
whose  eyes  fairly  scintillate  with  pleasure. 

As  a  cat  watches  a  mouse,  so  he  keeps  his  black 
orbs  on  Doctor  Jack  until  the  latter  has  applied  the 
lighted  taper  to  his.  cigar  and  given  a  few  puffs, 
when,  with  an  inaudible  sigh  of  relief,  the  Don  pro 
ceeds  to  put  fire  to  his  own  weed. 

While  his  back  is  turned  an  expression  of  amaze 
ment  creeps  over  Jack's  face.  He  looks  at  his  cigar, 
and  then  at  the  Don,  shaking  his  head  dubiously,  the 
sinner,  as  though  there  is  something  about  the  weed 
he  fails  to  appreciate,  and  yet  dares  not  offend  his 
host  by  throwing  it  away.  To  himself  he  mutters : 

"If  this  is  his  much  vaunted  brand,  bless  my  soul 
what  a  perverted  taste  these  Spaniards  have,  and 
here  I  always  believed  they  beat  the  world  at  grow 
ing  and  using  tobacco,  especially  in  Cuba.  I  won 
der "  he  does  not  finish  the  sentence,  but  a  sug 


wvrvn  JAV&.  9i 


gestive  smile  that  flits  across  his  face  takes  its  place 
announcing  that  Doctor  Jack  has  conceived  a  little 
scheme  to  at  least  save  himself  a  headache. 

"Don,  would  you  mind  getting  my  light  outer  coat. 
There  is  something  in  the  pocket  I  wanted  you  to 
have  to  remember  me  when  I  am  far  away.  My 
friends  are  too  few  to  allow  them  to  forget  me  when 
I  am  away.  I  brought  this  from  Paris  with  me." 

Don  Carlos'  eyes  sparkle  with  pleasure.  He  says 
he  will  be  back  with  it  in  a  minute,  and  hastens 
from  the  room. 

"No  hurry,"  calls  Jack  after  him,  coolly 

The  game  is  won.  Hardly  has  Don  Carlos  van 
ished  from  view  than  Jack's  hand  slips  again  to  the 
upper  pocket  of  his  vest,  and  out  comes  a  cigar  —  the 
one  he  had  been  about  to  smoke  when  his  host  inter 
rupted.  He  knows  the  fine  flavor  of  this,  and  can 
vouch  for  it. 

Quickly  he  bites  off  the  end,  then  the  lighted  weed 
is  held  close  to  the  new  one,  a  few  puffs  and  the 
thing  is  done,  after  which  Jack  manages  to  extin 
guish  the  fire  from  the  gift  cigar.  He  looks  at  it 
with  a  shudder,  is  about  to  cast  it  away,  becomes 
seized  with  an  idea,  and  hastily  deposits  the  suspi 
cious  affair  in  his  pocket,  which  is  a  good  way  to  get 
rid  of  the  obnoxious  weed,  and  gives  a  chance  for 
future  investigation. 

When  Don  Carlos  returns  with  the  coat  over  his 
arm  hardly  a  minute  has  elapsed.  He  discovers  Doc 
tor  Jack  leaning  back  on  a  divan,  holding  the  cig-ar 
between  his  fingers,  and  looking  at  the  smoke  curl 
ing  upward  with  an  expression  of  ecstatic  bliss  seen 
only  upon  a  smoker's  face  —  the  gnawing  has  been 
satisfied. 

Don  Carlos  grins,  and  mutters  "  ijaratnii  ;    the  drug 


92  DOCTOR  JACK. 

is  already  having  an  effect,"  but  in  this  he  deceives 
himself,  for  it  is  only  the  smoker's  content  that  has 
possession.  Then  he  admires  the  diamond  pin  Jack 
hands  him— a  decided  beauty — and  is  loud  in  his 
thanks. 

They  sit  here  for  some  little  time  indulging,  Jack 
smoking  furiously  in  order  to  use  his  cigar  up  as 
speedily  as  possible,  and  the  Spaniard  watching  him 
out  of  the  corner  of  his  eye  while  he  talks. 

To  his  surprise  Jack  shows  no  signs  of  giving  way 
to  the  somnolent  god.  Something  is  undoubtedly 
wrong ;  either  the  drug  has  lost  its  power  or  else — 
Don  Carlos  hardly  dares  conjecture  the  other  possi. 
bility. 

He  grinds  his  teeth  in  secret  rage,  and  yet  feels 
compelled  to  act  pleasant,  but  the  task  is  such  a 
hard  one  that  Doctor  Jack  perceives  he  is  troubled. 

At  length  the  American  athlete  tosses  the  butt  of 
his  cigar  into  the  receptacle  near  by,  and  rises  to  his 
feet,  donning  his  light  overcoat  as  he  does  so. 

In  vain  the  other  begs  him  to  remain.  He  might 
as  well  talk  to  a  stone  wall,  and  secretly  curses  at 
the  misfortune  that  has  beaten  him  so  neatly  at  his 
own  game.  He  does  not  understand  it  now,  but 
perhaps  he  may  when  he  gets  a  chance  to  examine 
that  cigar  stump  still  smoldering  in  the  cuspidor. 

So  Doctor  Jack  takes  his  hat,  bids  his  host  "buenos 
noches,"  and  passes  out  of  the  door.  There  is  a  lit 
tle  garden  in  front,  and  a. couple  of  lamps  hanging 
from  trees  show  the  path  to  the  calle. 

It  is  otherwise  as  dark  as  Egypt,  and  as  th«  door 
closes  behind  him  Jack  makes  a  bee  line  for  the  exit, 
which  he  has  no  trouble  in  pnssins:,  though  gen 
erally  doors  and  gates  are  well  barred  in  Madrid 


DOUTOR  JACK  13 

after  nightfall,  as  thieves  abound  in  the  strange  old 
Spanish  city. 

Once  upon  the  street  he  looks  around  for  his 
vehicle,  and  of  course  fails  to  find  it,  since  Don 
Carlos  was  so  kind  as  to  countermand  his  order 
hours  ago. 

Doctor  Jack  mutters  a  malediction  upon  the  stu 
pidity  of  Jehus  in  general  and  Spanish  ones  in  par 
ticular.  He  is  also  put  out  because  he  stayed  so 
late,  as  this  must  of  necessity  keep  him  from  ful 
filling  his  engagement  at  the  Fonda  Peninsular  to 
the  letter,  and  in  his  eyes  it  is  very  important  that 
he  give  Avis  no  cause  for  complaint  at  this  stage  of 
the  game. 

Such  a  man,  however,  is  not  at  a  loss  for  means  to 
carry  him  through.  Since  the  vehicle  has  failed  him 
he  has  his  own  powers  of  locomotion,  and  selecting 
his  course,  starts  off  with  a  swinging  stride  down  the 
driving  avenue  at  a  pace  that  promises  to  bring  him 
to  the  plaza  in  the  heart  of  the  city  within  half  an 
hour's  time,  provided  no  accident  befalls  him  while 
en  route. 

There  are  lights  here  and  there  upon  the  Calle  del 
Prado,  and  these  help  the  stranger  in  a  degree. 
Time  was,  and  not  so  very  long  ago,  when  the  hon 
est  citizen  of  this  burgh  desiring  to  go  out  at  night 
had  to  take  a  guard  along  with  him,  and  unless  the 
moon  shone,  have  a  link-boy  run  ahead  to  light  up' 
the  way.  The  Madrid  of  to-day  has  made  giant 
strides,  however,  though  far  in  the  rear  of  such  a 
brilliant  city  as  Paris. 

The  street  is  not  deserted,,  though  its  life  is  noth 
ing  compared  with  the  heart  of  the  city  in  the  plaza 
known  as  the  Pnerta  del  Sol,  where  the  pulse  of  the 
populace  beats,  and  all  gay  sights  are  concentrated. 


94  DOCTOR  JACK. 

Doctor  Jack  meets  several  slouching  fellows,  who 
look  at  him  inquisitively,  and  with  such  evident 
menace  in  their  manner  that,  considering  the  cir 
cumstances  surrounding  him,  the  American  may 
well  be  pardoned  for  holding  himself  in  readiness  to 
do  battle.  He  is  the  worst  man  in  Madrid  for  such 
footpads  to  tackle,  as  they  may  find  out  to  their 
cost. 

The  houses  become  more  numerous,  and  he  sees 
more  signs  of  life.  Soon  he  will  have  to  leave  this 
lighted  thoroughfare,  and  plunge  into  a  narrow 
street  that  by  devious  turnings  will,  if  he  have  rare 
good  luck,  eventually  take  him  to  the  public  square. 

If  danger  is  to  descend  upon  him  it  will  probably 
be  at  such  a  time,  but  there  is  really  no  way  to  avoid 
the  disagreeable  task. 

Music  greets  his  ear.  Beyond  a  wall  comes  the 
serenade  songs  of  some  dark-eyed  senorita  enjoying 
the  cool  air  of  the  evening  in  the  midst  of  her 
friends,  perhaps  with  a  stalwart  and  gallant  lover 
seated  at  her  side.  Over  the  way  the  music  is  more 
weird.  A  gipsy  bolero,  as  the  fandango  is  called  at 
times,  is  getting  under  way,  and  although  matters 
are  tame  enough  at  this  early  stage,  Jack  shudders 
as  he  remembers  the  wild  orgy  upon  which  he  gazed 
while  in  the  company  of  Don  Carlos  on  the  previous 
evening. 

Passing  on  he  enters  among  a  more  animated 
scene,  and  finally  is  filled  with  joy  to  actually  dis 
cover  an  alquazil,  to  whom  he  puts  a  question  and 
hands  a  piece  of  silver,  whereupon  the  guardian  of 
the  peace  tells  him  in  Spanish  that  if  he  enters  the 
first  calle  on  the  right,  and  follows  it  pertinaciously, 
he  will  at  length  reach  the  point  he  is  struggling 
for. 


DOCTOR  JACK.  tfd 

So  once  more  Doctor  Jack  strides  on,  covering  the 
ground  much  after  the  style  of  a  prize  pedestrian  on 
a  spurt.  Slow  going  Spaniards  look  after  him  in 
wonder,  and  shrug  their  shoulders  as  they  mutter 
something  about  the  crazy  heretics  who  get  loose 
upon  the  streets  of  their  wonderful  city. 

Jack  has  already  found  it  warm  work,  and  remov 
ing  the  light  overcoat,  carries  it  upon  his  left  arm. 
Later  on  he  has  cause  to  rejoice  that  it  was  not 
hanging  from  the  other,  or,  worse  still,  on  his  back. 

Coming  to  the  narrow  calle  he  glances  down  it  in 
dismay,  looks  around  with  a  last  forlorn  hope  that 
there  may  be  some  vehicle  in  sight  he  can  engage  or 
buy,  raid  discovering  none  makes  the  plunge  with  a 
groan. 

It  is  terribly  dark  here  after  coming  from  tho 
broad  and  lighted  Del  Prado,  until  Jack's  eyes  be. 
come  accustomed  to  the  gloom  he  can  see  absolutely 
nothing,  and  in  consequence  the  very  first  thing  he 
does  is  to  come  in  contact  with  some  unknown  per 
son  traveling  slowly  the  other  way. 

In  his  best  Spanish  he  hurriedly  apologizes,  anc 
goes  on,  leaving  his  victim  almost  stupefied  with 
astonishment. 

Progress  is  being  made,  though  of  a  somewhat 
costly  nature,  but  this  man  never  yet  conceived  a 
project  that  he  was  not  ready  to  devote  all  his  ener 
gies  to  in  order  to  execute,  and  he  will  reach  the 
grand  central  plaza  if  he  has  to  walk  over  the  half 
of  Madrid's  population  first.  Such  a  man  is  Doctor 
Jack.  No  wonder  fortune  smiled  upon  him  in  the 
old  Mexican  mines.  The  earth  is  bound  to  open  its 
treasure  caves  before  the  knock  of  a  man  who 
possesses  the  obstinacy  of  a  mule  a.dded  to  the  cour 
age  of  a  lion  and  the  shrewdness  of  the  fox. 


DOCTOR  JACK. 

At  the  same  time  Jack  is  muttering  little  ai._ 
themas  concerning  the  poverty-stricken  nature  of 
the  metropolis  that  cannot  afford  to  light  all  her 
streets,  -while  he  gathers  himself  up  after  nearly 
breaking  his  valuable  neck  over  some  obstacle 
•which  in  New  York  he  would  have  believed  must 
be  an  ash  box. 

Gradually,  however,  he  grows  into  a  better  frame 
of  mind.  His  eyes  are  becoming  more  accustomed  to 
the  gloom,  and  he  can  see — to  a  limited  extent,  it 
is  true,  but  enough  to  avoid  any  further  collisions, 
for  which  small  favor  he  is  correspondingly  thank 
ful. 

All  goes  as  merry  as  a  marriage  bell  now,  and 
when  he  reaches  a  light  that  cuts  the  blackness  of 
the  calle,  proceeding  from  a  shop,  Jack  takes  a  no 
tion  to  see  what  time  remains.  So,  bending  over, 
he  looks  at  his  watch,  and  finds  that  it  lacks  ten 
minutes  of  eight. 

This  is  encouraging — if  it  does  not  charge  he  will 
be  almost  on  time. 

He  takes  out  his  handkerchief,  and  wipes  his  face, 
for  such  rapid  walking  has  heated  his  blood.  Then 
he  again  breaks  away,  and  moves  rapidly  along. 

Before  twenty  seconds  have  passed  he  makes  a 
discovery  that  hardly  pleases  him.  By  chance  he 
turns  his  head  to  learn  what  distance  he  has  put  be 
tween  himself  and  the  area  of  light  from  the  shop 
window,  when  he  sees  several  dark  figures  stealing 
after  him. 

There  are  three  of  them  in  all,  and  it  does  not 
need  their  skulking  manner  to  tell  the  American 
that  they  are  not  honest  men.  These  footpads  infest 
all  large  cities,  not  so  much  in  our  country  as 
abroad,  and  yet  there  are  scores  of  streets  in  New 


JA8K.  97 

York,  near  the  rivers,  perhaps,  where  a  respectable 
man  takes  his  life  in  his  hands  if  he  saunters  along 
at  night. 

Here  is  a  contingency  which  Jack  does  not  ex 
actly  relish.  In  the  first  place  these  chaps  will  not 
fight  like  brave  men,  and  this  places  him  at  a  double 
disadvantage.  Then  again  he  must  only  use  the  re 
volver  he  carries  as  a  dernier  resort,  for  it  is  an  easy 
thing  to  get  mixed  up  in  a  scrape  with  the  authori 
ties  in  a  Continental  city,  and  the  burden  of  sym 
pathy  is  always  against  the  foreigner,  who  is  looked 
Upon  as  a  crow,  to  be  universally  plucked  by  inn 
keeper  and  footpad  alike,  so  long  as  his  money  is 
kept  in  the  country. 

There  are  two  things  Jack  can  do  under  this  stress 
of  circumstances,  and,  after  all,  it  is  but  a  choice  of 
evils — he  may  start  on  a  run  down  the  street,  with 
these  fellows  after  him,  or  else  continue  his  rapid 
walk,  and  meet  their  attack  when  it  comes. 

The  first  of  these  he  is  averse  to  doing  under  any 
and  all  circumstances,  for  he  looks  upon  puch  ras 
cals  as  vermin;  hence,  he  concludes  to  go  right 
along  and  meet  danger  as  it  flies. 

At  any  moment  the  assault  may  come,  and  he 
places  his  revolver  in  his  left  hand,  where  it  is  hid 
den  by  the  folds  of  the  coat  he  carries,  and  yet 
ready  for  instantaneous  use. 

Instead  of  the  calle  growing  lighter,  he  now 
reaches  what  appears  to  be  the  worst  part  of  it.  At 
this  hour  the  city  is  not  wrapped  in  silence  by  any 
means,  but  over  this  place,  perhaps  the  abode  of 
vice  and  sin,  the  gloom  of  a  church-yard  seems  to 
rest,  as  tbough  its  inhabitants  had  temporarily  for 
saken  it  for  more  profitable  fields  of  labor — the 


*S  HOGTVK  JACK. 

lighted    squares,   where  cafe&  glitter    and   money 
abounds. 

Footsteps  sound  behind  him.  Doctor  Jack  realizes 
shat  his  enemies  have  c^ept  closer,  and  are  about 
ready  to  spring  upon  him  The  prospect  of  a  stiletto 
in  the  back  is  not  a  very  at  luring  one  to  this  man  of 
the  world,  who  in  times  past  has  always  made  it  tin 
object  to  keep  hif  faco  toward  the  enemy,  be  it  lion, 
panther,  jackal,  or  mad  bull  in  the  arena. 

Consequently  he  believes  the  time  has  come  10 
turn,  and,  wheeling  half  around,  he  plants  his  back 
against  a  brick  wall,  something  in  the  way  he  faced 
the  furious  mob  in  the  streets  of  Barcelona  at  the 
time  his  treacherous  guide,  Francisco  Marti,  be 
trayed  him. 

The  movement  must  have  been  inspired  by  his 
good  angel,  for  it  saves  his  life.  Just  as  he  turns, 
something  strikes  him  a  severe  blow — it  is  a  knife 
that  had  been  meant  for  his  heart  through  his  back. 
Now  it  cuts  into  his  coat— a  terrible  gash  that  ruins 
the  garment,  as  the  blade  passes  through  many  folds, 
and  just  draws  blood  from  his  arm. 

Thus  the  little  affair  in  the  Calle  San  Pablo  is  com 
menced.  Doctor  Jack  is  a  fair  and  square  man — }ie 
does  not  like  to  have  the  favors  all  on  one  side.  Tit 
for  tat  is  a  good  motto  under  the  circumstances. 

Accordingly  that  terrible  right  arm  of  his,  so  ad 
mired  by  the  observing  Don  Carlos,  shoots  forward 
with  unerring  impetus.  There  is  heard  upon  the 
Alight  air  a  hollow  thud,'  like  the  stroke  of  a  trip 
Aammer,  and  the  stricken  wretch  measures  hie 
length  upon  the  cobble  stones  five  feet  away. 

By  this  time  the  other  two  have  reached  the  spot 
They  either  do  not  realize  what  has  happened  ro 
their  companion,  on  account  cf  the  darkness,  or  elso 


DOCTOR  JACK.  99 

have  determined  to  avenge  his  fall,  for  they  come  at 
the  American  at  bay  with  the  impetus  of  twin   cy 
clones. 

He  is  ready  to  meet  all  comers,  and  so  long  as 
that  superb  arm  fails  him  not,  can  render  a  good 
account  of  his  stewardship. 

It  is  all  over  in  almost  a  wink.  The  three  ruffians 
have  struck  a  snag  when  they  attack  the  wayfarer. 
Had  they  known  that  their  intended  victim  was  the 
hero  of  the  bull-ring,  about  whom  all  Madrid  is 
talking,  money  could  never  have  hired  them  to  at 
tempt  such  an  act. 

Every  one  of  them  has  had  a  bitter  experience 
with  the  muscle-knotted  arm  of  the  athlete — the 
first  still  lies  where  he  fell,  and  the  other  two  are 
groaning  as  they  attempt  to  crawl  or  stagger  away, 

As  for  Doctor  Jack,  he  has  no  complaint  to  make, 
but  resumes  his  journey  toward  the  plaza,  which 
will  soon  loom  up  before  him  bright  with  lights  and 
gay  with  people,  a  tremendous  contrast  to  the 
avenue  which  he  has  used  in  order  to  reach  it. 

The  last  man  who  leaped  for  him  came  near  seiz 
ing  his  throat  between  his  teeth,  for  he  sprang  at 
Jack  in  the  manner  of  a  bull-dog,  but  the  other 
grrve  him  such  a  shaking,  and  hurled  him  against 
the  wall  with  such  gigantic  power  that  the  wretch 
must  still  be  of  the  opinion  that  he  is  a  second 
Don  Quixote,  and  the  person  whom  he  meant  to  at 
tack  a  vengeful  windmill. 

It  is  to  be  hoped  this  will  end  the  matter,  Jack 
thinks.  Surely  none  of  these  discomfited  Spanish 
footpads  will  dare  follow  him,  but  there  may  be 
others  just  as  bad,  and  quite  a  little  space  remain • 
So  be  traversed  ere  he  reaches  his  Eden. 

He  keeps  himself  in  readiness  for  sucfc  an  emer- 


JAUJL 

genc}r,  but  breathes  a  sigh  of  relief  when,  ahead,  he 
sights  the  glowing  plaza,  and  realizes  that  in  all 
probability  his  adventures  of  the  night  are  over,  for, 
although  such  a  remarkable  adept  in  the  use  of  his 
powers  as  a  boxer,  a  fencer,  and  a  marksman,  Doc 
tor  Jack  Evans  always  feels  a  reluctance  about  turn 
ing  his  gifts  to  account  against  any  fellow  human 
being,  however  vile. 

Presently  he  debouches  from  the  dark  calle  into 
the  plaza.  It  is  little  trouble  now  to  find  dozens  of 
carriages  when  he  does  not  want  them — half  an 
hour  back  he  would  have  paid  fifty  dollars,  or  pesos, 
for  a  vehicle. 

The  Hotel  Peninsular  is  not  far  away,  being  one 
of  the  best  caravansaries  in  the  city  of  Madrid,  and 
consequently  adjoining  the  throbbing  heart  of  the 
city,  as  the  ever-lively  Puerto  del  Sol  is  called. 

When  Doctor  Jack  finds  himself  at  the  door  of 
this  building  beyond  all  doubt,  safe  in  body  and 
limb,  he  again  consults  his  faithful  timepiece,  and  a 
grim  smile  of  satisfaction  wreathes  his  face  as  he 
sees  that  it  still  lacks  two  minutes  of  eight. 

He  has  won  against  all  obstacles. 

"Just  a  breathing  spell  to  wash  my  hands  and 
brush  my  hair,"  he  muses. 

So  he  finds  his  way  to  the  wash-room  of  the  hotel 
— he  has  seen  better,  but  never  mind,  many  hotels 
on  the  Continent  have  none,  so  he  feels  he  has 
reason  for  congratulation. 

Here  he  performs  his  ablutions,  finds  the  skin  on 
his  knuckles  a  trifle  scratched  where  it  came  in  con 
tact  with  the  cranium  of  the  first  land  pirate,  runs  a 
comb  he  takes  from  a  pocket  through  his  curly 
locks  and  mustache,  then  once  more  seats  himself  in 
a  stuffy  little  parlor,  dimly  lighted,  waiting  to  ber 


DOCTOR  JACK.  181 

shown  into  the  presence  of  the  girl  who  has  already 
entered  into  his  life,  though  he  has  known  her  bufc 
six  hours  instead  of  that  many  years. 


CHAPTER  VIIL 
JACK'S  STORY. 

While  he  sits  there  waiting,  Doctor  Jack  revolves 
a  number  of  things  in  his  mind.  He  goes  back  to  the 
minute  when  he  first  set  eyes  on  Avis  Morton,  and 
in  a  general  way  remembers  the  conversation  that 
ensued. 

Somehow  or  other  he  has  a  queer  feeling  at  the 
prospect  of  seeing  this  girl  again — he  had  never  sup 
posed  Jack  Evans  would  ever  experience  the  pangs 
of  love,  but  it  is  ever  so. 

Tremendous  difficulties  have  been  surmounted  in 
his  endeavor  to  keep  the  appointment  on  time,  and 
the  manner  in  which  he  has  brushed  these  aside 
show  the  kind  of  a  man  he  is. 

Jack  does  not  dare  analyze  his  feelings  toward 
Miss  Morton.  It  has  come  upon  him  with  the  sud 
den  rush  of  an  avalanche.  He  calls  himself  a  fool, 
but  that  does  not  mend  matters  a  particle. 

"Just  as  I  always  predicted.  I  said  that  if  I  ever 
did  fall  in  love  it  would  be  like  tumbling  over  a 
precipice  head  first,"  he  mutters,  with  something  of 
a  woe-begone  face,  as  though  for  once  his  iron  will 
proves  of  little  avail  against  the  insidious  force  of 
the  god  Cupid,  who  has  wrestled  with  him. 


10*  OOCTOS  JACK. 

Then  he  looks  about  the  stuffy  little  room,  taking 
secret  pleasure  in  the  anticipation  of  what  is  before 
him.  Time  passes — the  minutes  seem  hours  to  him. 
Why  does  not  the  messenger  appear  to  show  him 
up?  Can  Miss  Morton  have  other  callers? 

Eis  mind  becomes  disturbed.  He  springs  to  his 
feet  to  pace  the  room,  and  thus  ease  himself  of  the 
strange  feeling:  that  makes  him  so  nervous,  wh^n  he 
conies  face  to  face  with  the  object  of  his  thoughts, 
who  enters  the  room,  stuffy  and  dimly  lighted  no 
more,  Jack  thinks,  for  she  brings  radiance  with  her. 

"You  are  punctual,  Doctor  Jack,"  she  says,  hold 
ing  out  her  hand  impulsively,  which  he  takes  with 
an  eagerness  he  does  not  disguise. 

"1  began  to  think  I  would  be  unable  to  be  so. 
Visiting  at  the  house  of  a  friend,  I  was  pressed  to 
stay,  and  did  so  until  I  believed  I  had  just  time 
enough  to  enter  my  carriage  and  come  here.  Upon 
bidding  the  Don  good-night  I  found  that  my  stupid 
driver  had  gone  away,  either  temporarily  or  for  good. 
That  gave  me  but  one  alternative.  I  must  walk 
here,  for  I  could  get  no  vehicle,  and  would  not  re 
turn  to  worry  my  friends." 

"And  you  did  this?"  she  asks,  with  wonder.  "Noth 
ing  could  hire  me  to  go  through  those  narrow  streets 
after  nightfall.  I  would  be  in  constant  fear  of  being 
robbed" — something  in  his  face  catches  her  quick 
eye — "tell  me,  did  you  have  an  experience  of  this 
kind?" 

Jack  has  not  meant  to  speak  of  his  little  engage 
ment — he  is  not  the  man  to  boast  of  his  prowess— 
but  with  those  eyes  upon  him  he  can  not  well  get 
out  of  it. 

"There  were  several  cowardly  sneaks  who  thought 
to  down  me.  I  foolishly  took  out  my  watch  to  cun- 


D00TOR  JALK.  108 

suit  the  time,  and  I  suppose  they  saw  it.  Howe\  er, 
they  failed  to  do  me  up." 

"You  hardly  look  like  a  man  who  has  gone 
through  an  encounter  with  footpads." 

"Oh !  I  used  a  little  water  in  the  wash-room  of  your 
notel  here.  Besides,  the  clumsy  clowns  went  down 
like  a  row  of  ten  pins.  It  was  all  over  in  half  a  min 
ute.  See,  there  is  proof  of  my  first  blow — my  hand 
will  be  a  trifle  stiff  to-morrow,  but  I  presume  the 
fellow  who  was  at  the  other  end  will  feel  worse  than 
that." 

Avis  gazes  at  him  with  kindling  eyes — he  looks  so 
quiet  and  modest,  and  yet  seems  so  capable  of  taking 
care  of  himself  against  all  comers,  from  a  mad  bull 
to  a  crowd  of  desperate  street  rowdies.  Heavens ! 
what  a  man  to  protect  the  woman  he  loves  against 
the  world.  This  thought  flashes  into  her  mind 
without  warning — she  feels  the  color  mounting  to 
her  face,  and  fearful  lest  the  scarlet  flag  of  distress 
may  be  revealed  to  his  eyes,  she  lets  her  gaze  drop. 
By  chance  it  rests  upon  his  left  hand — a  little  cry 
bubbles  from  her  lips. 

"Oh!  Doctor  Jack,  you  are  wounded!" 

He  starts,  and  looking  in  the  direction  she  points, 

sees  a  few  drops  of  blood  trickling  down  the  back  of 

,  his  hand.  The  sight  makes  him  angry,  and  he  takes 

out  a  handkerchief  to    hastily  wipe  the    tell-tale 

stains  away. 

"I  sincerely  beg  your  pardon,  Miss  Morton,  for 
appearing  in  your  presence  in  this  condition.  Hon 
estly,  I  did  not  know  that  knife  had  touched  me.  I 
had  my  overcoat  on  that  arm.  See  this  rent — that  is 
where  it  passed  through.  It  must  have  just  cut  me 
a  trifle." 


104  ~f)OGTOR  JACK. 

"But  you  are  wounded — I  am  something  of  a 
nurse.  Let  me  bind  it  up  for  you." 

He  would  emphatically  refuse,  and  opens  his 
mouth  to  do  so,  but  she  has  assumed  such  a  pretty 
air  of  authority  that  somehow  he  feels  as  though  he 
were  a  slave,  without  a  will  of  his  own.  For  once 
the  stubborn  man  is  conquered — that  little  imp 
Cupid  has  done  it. 

Protesting,  yet  obeying  the  mandate,  he  draws  up 
the  loose  sleeve  of  his  coat,  and  in  half  a  minute 
bares  his  magnificent  arm.  It  is  his  left,  but  a 
splendid  specimen  nevertheless.  Jack  hastily  wipes 
the  blood  away.  There  is  a  cut  an  inch  or  so  long, 
where  the  keen  blade  touched  the  flesh  in  its  pas 
sage.  Avis  utters  an  exclamation  of  sympathy,  and 
begins  to  wrap  her  little  cobweb  of  a  'kerchief 
around  it,  while  Jack  expostulates,  declaring  it  to  be 
only  a  trifle,  not  worth  bothering  about — neverthe 
less  he  stands  the  ordeal  like  a  Roman,  though  the 
touch  of  her  cool  fingers  sends  the  blood  rioting 
through  his  veins,  and  threatens  to  give  him  a  dis 
ease  that  may  be  incurable  during  the  rest  of  his 
natural  life. 

"A  thousand  thanks,  Miss  Avis.  It  is  not  every 
poor  devil  who  may  receive  such  tender  treatment 
after  being  engaged  in  a  street  brawl,"  and  he 
draws  the  coat  sleeve  down. 

Then  he  remembers  what  it  was  brought  him  here 
— to  what  he  owes  the  pleasure  of  this  interview. 

"You  left  the  senorita  well,  I  trust,  Doctor  Jack?" 
queries  the  girl,  and  he  is  amazed  to  see  how  easily 
she  guesses  where  he  has  been — trust  a  woman  for 
reading  such  simple  things. 

"Quite  well,  thank  you."    Jack  would  not  con- 


SOCTOR  JACf.  l(k 

tinue  the  subject,  but  Avis  has  no  intention  of  let 
ting  him  off  so  easily. 

"Since  meeting  her  I  have  heard  that  the  Senorita 
Gonzales  has  a  wonderful  voice,  the  most  charming 
in  Madrid  it  is  said." 

"Her  voice  is  certainly  charming,"  Jack  is  bound 
to  admit — under  the  Dresent  circumstances  he  does 
so  unwillingly,  not  that  he  believes  otherwise,  but 
he  dislikes  praising  Mercedes  in  the  presence  of  this 
girl,  though  some  men  would  do  just  the  opposite, 
endeavoring  to  arouse  a  spark  of  jealousy  by  going 
into  raptures  over  the  other. 

"She  sang  for  you,  then?"  quickly. 

"Yes — you  must  hear  her  some  day  yourself. "  He 
tries  to  work  this  in,  -just  as  though  it  is  some  new 
operatic  star  he  speaks  of  instead  of  a  lady  friend. 

"You  are  fond  of  music,  Doctor  Jack,"  she  pur 
sues — strange  how  every  one  calls  him  thus,  seldom 
mentioning  his  last  name.  He  likes  to  hear  it  fall 
from  her  lips. 

"Very." 

"Perhaps  you  sing  yourself?" 

"A  little — songs  of  the  hunt,  the  camp-fire,  or  a 
roving  life  on  the  deep  blue  sea.  Sometimes  we  may 
have  a  cozy  evening  together — I  am  sure  you  sing." 

"I  should  not  dare  to  try  after  your  hearing  such 
a  nightingale  as  the  senorita.  How  does  your  arm 
feel,  doctor?" 

"Exceedingly  confortable,  thank  you.  When  I 
get  to  my  hotel  I  shall  rub  on  a  salve  I  have  that 
will  make  it  heal  rapidly.  Such  scratches  are  noth 
ing.  I  have  had  twenty  worse  than  that  at  one  time 
after  a  terrible  tussle  with  a  grizzly  bear  out  in  the 
Rockies." 


106  DOCTOR  JACK 

"Borne  time  you  must  relate  your  adventures  to 
me,  as  Othello  did  to  Desdemona.  you  remember/ 
with  a  twinkle  in  her  blue  eyes. 

"Yes.  and  I  have  often  thought  what  an  egotisti 
cal  chap  Othello  must  have  been,  telling  yarns  by 
the  wholesale,  himself  the  hero  every  time,  until 
poor  Desdemona  believed  him  a  veritable  god.  Poor 
thing,  she  discovered  her  mistake  afterward,  and 
that  he  was  but  an  ordinary  jealous  mortal  in  spite 
of  his  wonderful  heroism." 

Avis  bursts  into  a  clear  laugh  at  what  he  says, 
and  Jack  believes  it  is  the  cheeriest  sound  he  has 
heard  for  many  a  day. 

'  •  We  will  defer  the  adventures,  then,  to  some  time 
in  the  future.  Just  now,  I  believe,  you  have  some 
thing  else  to  tell  me." 

With  that  he  comes  down  suddenly  from  his  high 
horse — the  interest  this  girl  takes  in  him  may,  after 
all,  proceed  from  her  desire  to  know  what  message 
he  carries,  and  all  this  time  has  foolishly  deluded! 
himself  into  the  belief  that  she  had  begun  to  cave 
for  Doctor  Jack  himself. 

Somewhat  abashed,  he  draws  within  his  shell  like 
an  old  mud  turtle,  and  is  upon  his  dignity,  but  no 
one  can  long  remain  there  while  Avis  Morton  is 
around — the  j oiliest  girl  that  ever  sailed  from  New 
York  on  a  steamer,  always  the  life  of  a  crowd,  and 
adored  by  every  one  she  meets,  male  and  female. 

In  his  walk  in  4if e  Doctor  Jack  has  been  a  most 
extraordinary  character,  .but  once  he  falls  in  love 
he  jinks  his  individuality,  and  does  the  same  ordi 
nary  things  all  lovers  do.  It  is  the  common  lot. 

"Ahl  yes,  you  mean  Aleck?"  he  ventures,  en 
deavoring  to  collect  himself. 

"Tell  me  about  him.     In  one  of  his  letters  he 


DOCTOR  JAVA.  507 

tioned  your  name — 1  have  never  forgotten  it.,  and 
when  I  heard  you  speak  it  to-day  the  shock  was 
somewhat  painful." 

•'Aleck  was  very  dear  to  you,  Miss  Avis?';      ' 

"He  was  my  brother.  I  loved  him  as  a  hoy.  When 
he  came  of  age,  long  before  me,  he  went  abroad.  I 
never  saw  him  again,  but  had  an  occasional  letter 
telling  me  of  his  travels.  Then  you  joined  him — 
later  we  read  in  the  papers  that  you  were  traveling 
in  Turkey  together — then  came  the  news  of  his  death 
— it  was  a  terrible  shock  to  me.  I  understood  that 
you  had  escaped,  and  were  still  traveling  in  Europe. 
It  has  been  my  hope  ever  since  to  meet  you." 

Tears  dim  the  azure  eyes — Doctor  Jack  wishes  he 
had  the  right  to  wipe  them  away,  but  even  the  fleet 
ing  thought  frightens  him.  Not  for  the  world  would 
he  offend  this  girl. 

"The  story  is  brief  enough,  but  painful.  Do  you 
feel  as  though  you  could  listen  to  it  to-night,  or  shall 
we  defer  it?' 

"No,I  must  hear  it  now.  Tell  me  all — how  my  poor 
Aleck  was  murdered,  and  you  escaped." 

"Perhaps  you  will  think  less  of  me  because  I  did 
not  fall  with  him,  but " 

"The  account  I  read  spoke  highly  of  your  cour 
age,  declaring  that  you  performed  prodigies  of  valor 
in  behalf  of  your  friend,  but  were  finally  struck 
down,  and  poor  Aleck's  body  cast  into  the  Bos- 
phorus. " 

Doctor  Jack's  face  grows  singularly  white,  his 
eyes  flash,  and  his  hands  open  and  shut  with  a  spas 
modic  movement  as  his  memory  goes  back  to  the 
scene  she  mentions.  With  an  effort  he  calms  him 
self.  Through  an  open  window  the  odor  of  flowers 
creeps  and  fills  with  sweet  incense  the  stuffy  little 


10&  ,    DOCTOR  JAdL 

room.  Somehow  it  seems  to  him  as  though  this  grin 
had  brought  the  flower  odor  with  her — they  seem  to 
be  one  in  common. 

"Let  us  sit  down,  Avis — pardon  me,  but  1  heard 
Aleck  call  you  by  that  name  so  often  that  it  falls 
unconsciously  from  my  lips — we  can  talk  better  and 
be  more  comfortable.  Sit  beside  this  window,  where 
we  may  hear  the  tinkling  of  the  fountain  near  by, 
and  enjoy  the  fragrance  of  the  flowers.  Somehow, 
this  puts  me  in  mind  of  the  many  nights  poor  Aleck 
and  I  spent  together — perhaps  it  is  because  you  re 
semble  him  in  a  great  measure.  Aleck  and  I  were 
great  chums — he  was  the  warmest  hearted  friend  I 
ever  had,  and  I  shall  never  forget  him;  but  it  is 
needless  for  me  to  say  anything  about  him  to  his 
sister,  who  must  know  him  so  much  better  than  I 
ever  could.'* 

"Nevertheless,  I  drink  in  your  words  with  rare 
pleasure,  Doctor  Jack.  Any  one  whom  Aleck  loved 
must  be — my  friend.  We  were  orphans,  and  all  in 
all  to  each  other." 

"Thank  you.  I  will  not  speak  now  of  our  travels, 
knowing  they  will  keep  and  that  you  are  particu 
larly  interested  in  the  sad  event  that  deprived  me  of 
a  friend  and  you  of  a  brother." 

She  nods  her  head,  but  does  not  look  up — he 
knows  her  eyes  are  full  of  tears,  and  respects  a  fond 
sister's  anguish. 

"We  were  in  Turkey  at  the  time,  and  Aleck,  who 
had  never  been  in  the  Orient  before,  was  immensely 
taken  with  the  strange  things  he  saw  there.  He 
managed  to  get  into  a  few  scrape«  through  his  rash 
ness,  but  they  were  small  affairs,  and  the  judicious 
expenditure  of  a  little  money  cleared  him. 

"I  must  have   been  blind  not  to  have  seen  that 


DOGTVR  JAGS.  109 

something  was  on  the  tapis,  but  at  the  time  certain 
things  worried  me,  of  which  I  need  make  no  men 
tion,  and  I  put  Aleck  in  charge  of  a,  certain  effendi, 
who,  for  a  round  consideration,  agreed  to  take  care 
of  him. 

"I  had  managed  to  straighten  out  my  affairs, 
when  one  day  Aleck  let  a  thunderbolt  fall  at  my 
feet.  He  was  in  love.  The  object  of  his  passion 
was  a  wonderfully  beautiful  girl,  the  inmate  of  a 
harem.  Unknown  to  me,  and  bribed  by  Aleck,  the 
Turkish  effendi  had  taken  the  boy  into  the  grounds 
and  introduced  him  to  the  harem,  the  eunuchs  in  at 
tendance  being  made  blind  with  gold. 

"That  settled  the  business.  He  fell  head  over 
heels  in  love  with  a  girl  called  Sady,  and  she  re 
turned  his  passion.  Night  after  night  he  had  been 
meeting  her  in  the  gardens,  and  life  without  her  was 
a  barren  waste. 

"He  raved  of  her  lovely  qualities  of  mind  and  per 
son — I  was  too  amazed  to  speak. 

"When  I  tried  to  argue  Aleck  swore  he  would 
never  leave  Constantinople  without  this  girl  as  his 
wife — he  would  rather  die  with  her  than  live  with 
out  her. 

"What  could  I  do  with  such  a  hot  head,  Miss 
Avis?  Words  fell  upon  a  deaf  ear.  He  insisted  that 
I  should  help  him. 

"As  a  last  resort  I  agreed  to  see  the  owner  of  the 
harem,  and  leaving  Aleck  in  the  room  we  occupied 
I  had  an  interview  with  the  guide  we  had  engaged. 

"I  discovered  that  the  pasha  was  away,  but  his 
agent  could  be  seen,  so  an  hour  later  I  was  in  his 
presence.  I  could  talk  a  little  Turkish,  but  took  an 
old  schoolmate  or  hod/a  along  to  act  as  interpreter. 

"Here  I  only  met  disappointment,  for  I  found  that 


116  DOCTOR  JAGS. 

the  pasha  was  one  of  the  richest  men  in  all  Turkey, 
and  would  not  sell  one  of  the  inmates  of  his  harem 
at  any  price.  Incidentally  I  also  learned  that  the 
girl  Sady  was  soon  to  become  an  inmate  of  the 
pasha's  seraglio  as  a  wife. 

"I  knew  full  well  that  this  news  would  drive 
Aleck  wild,  but  to  my  surprise  he  took  it  calmly.  I 
was  deceived  by  his  manner,  and  believed  he  had 
come  to  his  senses. 

"Several  more  days  came,  and  we  made  prepara 
tions  for  leaving  the  City  of  the  Golden  Horn.  Most 
of  our  things  had  gone,  and  I  was  thinking  of  get 
ting  tickets,  when  Aleck  came  to  me  and  told  me  to 
make  it  three — that  he  meant  to  steal  iSady  from  the 
harem  on  this  night,  and  by  the  time  the  bold  theft 
was  discovered  we  would  all  be  outside  of  Turkish 
territory. 

"I  was  amazed  at  his  boldness,  and  told  him  he 
was  mad.  To  make  a  long  story  short,  I  found  that 
he  was  bound  to  attempt  this  insane  project, 
whether  I  helped  him  or  not,  and  as  it  is  not  mv  na 
ture  to  desert  a  friend,  no  matter  what  the  wild 
goose  chase  he  may  be  engaged  on,  I  found  myself 
in  the  plot. 

"Everything  had  been  arranged.  It  was  a  moon, 
light  night,  and  we  had  no  trouble  in  entering  th& 
sacred  grounds.  Here  Sady  met  us,  and  when  1 
saw  her  face  peep  from  under  the  vail  I  did  not  won 
der  poor  Aleck  had  gone  wild  over  her  beauty,  for 
she  was  charming — a  Georgian  girl,  I  believe. 

"All  went  well  until  we  drew  near  the  boat,  then 
out  of  the  thicket  sprang  a  score  or  more  of  savage 
looking  Turks  armed  with  clubs.  They  attacked  us 
fiercely.  I  looked  around  for  the  guide,  but  he  had 
disappeared,  the  heathen  dog  having  betrayed  us* 


DOCTOR  JACK.  Ill 

seeing  he  could   get  no  more  money  out  of  Aleck 
after  that  night. 

"Both  of  us  fought  like  tigers,  but  it  was  of  no 
avail.  I  saw  Aleck  beaten  down,  and  was  sorely 
pressed  myself.  Above  the  fierce  cries  I  heard  tho 
deep  voice  of  a  man  whom  I  rightly  judged  to  be 
the  pasha  himself,  shouting,  'To  the  water  with  the 
Christian  dogs !  Drown  them  like  rats  in  the  Bos- 
plioriis. ' 

•'Several  picked  Aleck  up — he  was  to  all  appear 
ances  dead,  but  I  made  a  rush  to  save  him.  A  cudgel 
struck  me,  and  I  fell  across  the  form  of  my  friend, 
senseless.     They  must  have  thrown  me  into  the  Bos 
phorus,  for  the  cold  water  revived  me,  and  desper 
ately  I  struggled  to  the  surface. 

''Heaven  was  kind,  for  a  black  cloud  hid  the  face 
of  the  moon,  and  my  enemies  did  not  see  me  swim 
away ;  but  I  returned  when  they  had  gone,  to  search 
for  poor  Aleck,  and  only  gave  up  the  hunt  when  the 
night  was  well  spent. 

"I  left  Constantinople,  and  have  not  been  there 
since,  but  expect  to  shortly — in  fact,  I  was  heading 
that  way  when  I  learned  that  you  were  to  be  in 
Madrid,  and  hence  came  down  here  from  Barcelona 
to  make  the  acquaintance  of  Aleck's  sister,  and  see 
if  she  was  the  kind  of  girl  to  join  me  in  an  enterprise 
I  have  on  hand." 

If  this  is  the  true  reason  of  Jack's  coming  to 
Madrid,  then  the  fact  that  the  lovely  Catalan  flower 
girl  would  be  at  the  bull-fight  cuts  only  a  side  issue 
in  it.  Men  do  not  always  tell  all  they  know. 

At  his  words  Avis  looks  up — tears  are  in  her  eyes, 
but  upon  her  face  a  look  of  wonder — of  startled  cu 
riosity.  What  does  he  mean?  His  language  is 
strange,  indeed.  So  she  puts  the  question  to  him. 


112  DOCTOR  JACK. 

"By  the  merest  accident  in  the  wide  world  I  have 
learned  a  certain  fact  that  fills  me  with  mingled 
sorrow  and  joy,"  he  says,  slowly. 

"It  is — of  Aleck?"  she  gasps,  watching  his  face 
eagerly  the  while,  as  though  she  would  read  the 
truth  there  before  words  can  frame  an  answer. 

"Yes.  When  I  came  away  from  Constantinople  I 
believed  as  firmly  as  I  lived  that  Aleck  had  been 
murdered,  else  not  for  all  the  riches  on  earth  would 
I  have  deserted  him.  Imagine  ray  amazement  when 
I  learned,  through  a  source  I  have  every  reason  to 
believe,  that  my  friend  had  not  been  killed,  but  was 
kept  a  prisoner  by  the  fiendish  pasha,  who  studied 
to  know  how  the  most  terrible  revenge  could  be 
taken  upon  the  man  who  had  dared  enter  his  harem, 
and  try  to  steal  the  gem  of  all." 

At  this  Avis  Morton  presses  her  hands  over  her 
eyes — she  suffers  horrible  tortures  at  the  thought  of 
what  Doctor  Jack's  words  suggest,  but  not  a  tear 
dims  her  eyes  now — the  time  for  weeping  is  past. 

When  she  looks  up,  that  first  spasm  of  agony 
over,  Doctor  Jack  is  delighted  to  find  that  her  face 
has  assumed  a  resolute  expression — such  a  girl 
would  do  and  dare  wonders  for  one  she  loves. 

"Tell  me,  what  do  you  propose?" 

"To  find  out  the  truth,  and  if  Aleck  is  alive  rescue 
him  if  I  have  to  set  Constantinople  on  fire  to  do  it," 
he  answers,  quietly,  not  in  a  boasting  way,  but  as 
though  he  means  every  word  he  speaks. 

Avis,  impulsive  Avis,  puts  out  her  hand,  and  he 
loses  no  time  in  grasping  it,  nor  is  he  in  any  hurry 
to  release  the  little  quivering  member. 

'You  have  aroused  a  new  hope  in  my  heart,  Doc 
tor  Jpek.  Please  Heaven  it  is  not  doomed  to  disap 
pointment.  Whatever  a  woman  may  do,  yes,  more 


JAVA.  113 

even,  you  can  depend  upon  my  doing  for  Aleck — he 
is  the  only  one  I  have  ever  had  to  love,"  and  the 
tears  seem  to  cause  her  voice  to  tremble. 

"Can  you  make  your  preparations  to  leave  Mad 
rid  shortly?"  he  asks. 

"At  once." 

"It  will  not  do  to  be  too  precipitate,  as  it  might? 
excite  suspicion,  and  our  task  be  made  harder." 

"What!  has  he  spies  even  here'r" 

"Worse  than  that — he  is  here  himself." 

"The  man  who  holds  Aleck  a  prisoner  and  studies 
how  he  can  invent  new  ways  to  torture  him  ?  Oh  I 
the  fiend,  I  would  like  to  see  him." 

"You  have  done  so  already." 

"I — impossible !" 

"Talked  with  him." 

"That  cannot  be.  Let  me  think.  Besides  the  am 
bassador  in  England  and  Abdallah  Pasha  I  have 
never  spoken  to  a  Turk  in  my  life,"  she  cries. 

"You  have  uttered  his  name — Abdallah  Pasha  is 
the  man — your  brother's  jailer." 


114  •  nnr-TOR  JACK. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

MADRID   AWAKENS   AT   MIDNIGHT. 

There  is  a  certain  dramatic  force  to  these  words  at 
Jack's,  even  though  he  does  not  raise  his  voice. 
Sometimes  a  whisper  is  more  effective  than  a  shout 
in  thrilling  an  audience  Avis  is  astonished  hy  what 
she  hears — her  mind  goes  back  to  her  meeting  with 
the  pasha  in  London,  and  she  remembers  singular 
looks  he  gave  her,  which  at  the  time  impressed  her 
as  boldness  on  the  part  of  this  Oriental  magnate, 
but  which  she  now  believes  to  have  been  inspired  by 
the  fact  that  he  has  recognized  in  her  the  sister  of 
the  infidel  he  hates  so  terribly. 

How  eagerly  he  had  inquired  about  the  prospect 
of  her  visiting  Constantinople,  which  city  he  called 
Stamboul,  as  all  natives  dc.  Then  again  how  enr- 
iiestly  he  had  dilated  upon  the  wonderful  beauties 
of  the  Eastern  city,  its  magnificent  mosques  and 
towering  minarets,  speaking  in  a  way  to  inspire  a 
longing  in  her  breast  to  speedily  look  upon  these 
sights,  and  promising  to  do  all  in  his  power  to  make 
their  stay  a  pleasant  one. 

All  this  had  seemed  very  kind  of  the  pasha,  and 
perhaps  Avis,  possessed  of  the  natural  vanity  al 
lotted  to  womankind,  laid  it  at  the  door  of  her  vi 
vacity,  which  possibly  the  old  Turk  admired. 

Now,  a  dim  suspicion  begins  to  creep  through  her 
mind  that  there  may  have  been  a  deep,  dark  method 
in  his  actions.  Such  a  man  seemed  fit  for  treason, 
£ tratagem.  and  spoils,  because  he  had  no  music  in 


S9CTOR  V&VK.  115 

feis  soul,  and  would  as  soon  listen  to  the  croaking  of 
•a.  frog  as  the  sweet  notes  of  a  nightingale. 

So  she  mentions  her  thoughts  to  Jack,  who  for 
some  reason  seems  to  see  enough  in  the  matter  to 
investigate  deeper,  and  asks  her  numerous  questions 
concerning  what  passed  between  the  pasha  and  her 
self  at  their  meeting  in  the  English  house. 

A  dreadful  suspicion  is  hammering  at  the  door  for 
admittance,  but  he  can  hardly  believe  it  possible 
that  any  man  could  descend  to  such  depths  of  in 
famy  ;  so  for  the  present  it  is  shut  out,  to  arise  again 
later  on  and  mock  him  with  the  reality. 

They  talk  for  some  time  longer,  principally  upon 
the  subject  that  interests  them  both.  Avis  Morton 
believes  it  is  the  hand  of  Providence  that  brought 
about  this  meeting.  After  the  prodigies  of  valor 
which  she  witnessed  Doctor  Jack  perform  at  the 
bull-fight,  she  does  not  see  how  anything  could  long 
remain  a  barrier  for  such  a  man,  and  if  any  one  can 
help  her  find  and  save  Aleck  he  is  the  person. 

Their  quiet  little  tete-a-tete  is  disturbed — loud  voices 
sound  without. 

"It  is  Cousin  Larry — what  can  be  the  matter?" 
exclaims  Avis,  rising  hurriedly. 

The  voices  have  grown  more  resolute — two  men 
are  quarreling,  and  while  one  pours  hot  Spanish 
oaths  in  a  heavy  tone  the  other  squeals  American 
ones  in  a  shrill  falsetto. 

"I  beg  you  to  remain  seated  here  while  I  se«  to 
your  cousin.  He  may  be  annihilated  by  that  bully," 
and  so  saying  Doctor  Jack  passes  out  of  the  little 
room. 

He  sees  a  peculiar  sight — the  dude  is  face  to  face 
with  a  burly  fellow,  who  glowers  upon  him  aa 


116  DOCTOR  JACK 

though  he  would  only  need  an  invitation  to  eat  him 
up. 

"You  are  a  thief — a  scoundrel!"  declares  Cousin 
Larry  in  the  bully's  teeth. 

This  is  the  last  straw  on  the  camel's  back — the 
fellow  has  reached  his  limit,  and  with  a  roar  of 
anger  he  aims  a  blow  at  the  head  of  the  dude.  Doc 
tor  Jack,  too  late  to  prevent  the  conflict,  holds  his 
breath,  expecting  to  see  Cousin  Larry  sent  flying 
across  the  office,  but  just  here  he  makes  a  serious 
mistake. 

A  quick  ducking  movement  saves  the  dude,  and 
then  springing  up  he  rains  a  shower  of  blows  upon 
the  face  of  his  antagonist,  who,  blinded,  roars  with 
pain  and  fright,  and,  turning,  runs  off  like  the  cow 
ard  that  he  is,  followed  by  Larry,  who  manages  to 
administer  a  parting  kick. 

It  has  seemed  to  Jack  so  like  a  fight  between  a  big 
Brahma  fowl  and  a  little  bantam,  that  he  almost  ex 
pects  the  victor  to  crow  as  he  comes  back  again  An 
odd  genius  he  certainly  is,  and  Jack  is  glad  to  know 
his  first  estimate  of  the  little  man  was  not  far  in  the 
wrong. 

"It  does  me  proud  to  see  an  American  stand  up 
like  that.  Now,  what  was  it  all  about?"  he  asks, 
after  stepping  out  and  shaking  hands  with  the  vic 
tor  in  the  main. 

The  dandy  carefully  brushes  off  a  speck  of  dust  he 
imagines  he  sees  upon  his  lavender  colored  trousers, 
twists  the  ends  of  the  ghostly  mustache  which  sup 
ports  his  dignified  claim  of  being  a  man,  and  an 
swers  in  his  cool  way : 

"The  beggah  insulted  me.  He  was  inquisitive 
about  my  cousin's  movements,  and  actually  off  abed 
me — Lawrence  Edgewater  Kennedy,  of  Fifth  «ive- 


SOCTQR  JACK.  117 

mie,  New  York — two  miserable  doubloons  if  I  would 
induce  my  Cousin  Avis  to  patronize  a  hotel  in  Con 
stantinople  that  he  wepwesented.  Bah  Jove!  I 
couldn't  shake  him  off,  and  we  had  twouble,  you 
see." 

The  trouble  seems  to  sit  lightly  on  the  head  of  Mr. 
Larry.  Jack,  on  the  contrary,  looking  beyond,  sees 
a  certain  significance  in  this  affair  of  the  night. 

He  does  not  mean  to  tell  Larry  that  his  cousin  is 
so  near,  for,  selfish  as  the  rest  of  mankind,  he  hopes 
to  continue  the  delicious  tete-a-tete  in  the  little  parlor. 

Hence  he  is  glad  when  Larry  walks  over  to  greet 
an  acquaintance,  and  Jack  is  about  returning  to  his 
fair  Dulcina,  when  he  happens  to  follow  the  dude 
with  his  eyes,  and  immediately  receives  something 
of  a  shock,  for  he  sees  Larry  earnestly  talking  with 
one  whom  he  recognizes  as  the  pasha. 

How  long  has  the  Turk  been  there?  Perhaps  he 
saw  Doctor  Jack  come  in,  send  up  his  card,  and  go 
in  the  parlor  to  wait,  for  the  American  did  not  look 
around,  being  too  much  engrossed  with  his  thoughts 
and  anticipations  of  the  coming  meeting. 

It  is  even  possible  that  the  pasha  knew  of  the  ap 
pointment,  although  not  present  when  it  was  entered 
into.  Then  he  has  also  seen  Avis  come  down  and 
join  Jack 

Not  once  does  he  ,ook  toward  the  letter,  but  con. 
verses  fluently  with  Larry,  who  seems  to  have  taken 
a  strange  liking  to  him.  Jack  imagines  that  the 
crafty  pasha,  believing  he  could  make  the  New  York 
dude  useful,  has  cultivated  his  acquaintance,  and 
as  Larry's  hair  is  so  evenly  balanced  on  either  side, 
a  very  little  flattery  is  apt  to  turn  his  head 

There  may  trouble  come  of  this  yet,  but  as  the 
skies  are  still  clear,  Jack  goes  back  to  enjoy  a  little 


more  of  Miss  Morton's  company.  When  finally  he 
leaves  her,  the  pasha  is  no  longer  to  be  seen  in  the 
hotel. 

One  experience  with  rhe  footpads  is  quite  enough 
for  Senor  Jack,  and  he  looks  around  for  a  vehicle  to 
take  him  to  the  caravansary  at  which  he  is  located, 
and  which  is  situated  far  away  from  the  Puerto  del 
Sol. 

A  driver  sees  his  action  and  anticipates  his  wish, 
for  he  brings  his  closed  vehicle  close  to  the  pave 
ment,  and  calls  out  to  know  if  the  senor  desires  a 
carriage. 

Perhaps  Doctor  Jack  might  have  hesitated  about 
engaging  this  fellow  had  he  seen  him  holding  a 
whispered  conversation  with  the  Turkish  pasha  a 
short  time  before ;  but  being  in  ignorance  of  this 
same  thing,  he  jumps  into  the  vehicle,  gives  the 
driver  the  name  of  his  hotel,  and  slams  the  door. 

Again  he  is  threading  the  narrow  calle,  and 
around  them  darkness  hangs  much  of  the  time.  For 
tunately  for  him  the  American  has  his  wits  about 
him — a  suspicion  comes  first — he  observes  the  route, 
and  then  of  a  certainty  discovers  that  his  driver  is 
away  off.  Undoubtedly  the  fellow  is  up  to  some  ugly 
business — perhaps  he  knows  the  pasha,  and  ^s  en 
deavoring  to  lead  the  bold  American  into  a  trap  of 
some  sort. 

It  takes  a  wide-awake  Yankee  to  deal  with  such 
crafty  men.  Doctor  Jack,  when  he  makes  this  dis 
covery,  does  not  call  upon  the  driver  to  halt.  They 
are  in  a  dark  part  of  the  narrow  street,  and  the 
vehicle  makes  such  a  noise  rattling  along  that  any 
Bound  he  may  cause  is  drowned. 

Without  a  moment's  hesitation  he  opens  the  win 
dow  beside  him,  over  tfhe  door>  pushes  his  head  and 


DOCTOR  JACK.  119 

feoulders  out,  grasps  the  steel  railing  around  the  top 
of  the  coach,  and  begins  to  draw  his  whole  form  out. 

None  but  an  athlete  could  accomplish  this,  what 
with  the  darkness  and  the  moving  coach,  but  Doc 
tor  Jack  does  the  job,  feels  with  his  foot  for  the 
front  step,  used  by  the  driver,  finds  it,  gives  one 
turn,  and  with  a  single  motion  seats  himself  beside 
that  worthy,  who,  never  dreaming  of  the  gymnas 
tics  going  on  behind,  is  tremendously  astounded  to 
discover  a  human  body  planted  beside  his  OWH,  but 
who  is  even  more  surprised  when  he  feels  the  cold 
muzzle  of  a  revolver  touch  his  face,  and  a  voice  bel 
low  in  his  ear  above  the  rattle  of  steel-shod  wheels 
on  the  cobblestones : 

"I  am  your  passenger.  Your  game  is  up.  Turn 
along  the  first  calle  leading  to  the  Del  Prado  or  I'll 
murder  you.  No  ^ords,  but  obey/'  says  this  terri 
ble  voice. 

The  man  shivers — perhaps  he  fears  lest  he  has 
picked  up  a  crazy  fare — but  he  obeys  orders,  and  in 
ten  minutes  Doctor  Jack  drops  down  in  front  of  the 
little  fonda  where  he  has  put  up,  hands  the  man  a 
peso,  gives  hJm  a  look  that  makes  his  hair  stand  up, 
and  marches  into  the  hotel. 

He  doe*  not  mean  to  retire  yet — there  is  much 
thinking  to  be  done  ere  turning  in — and  he  takes  out 
a  cigar  to  smoke,  when  he  discovers  the  one  given 
him  by  Don  Carlos. 

Again  that  suspicion  comes  to  him.  He  takes  the 
cigar  to  his  room,  where  in  a  simple  way  he  can  telJ 
whether  it  has  been  drugged.  To  his  surprise  the 
experiment  proves  the  fact  beyond  a  question. 

Then  he  wonders,  while  smoking  one  of  his  own 
cheroots,  what  the  game  is — why  should  Don  Carlos 
desire  to  keep  him  under  liis  roof  against  his  will-— 


120  DOCTOR  JACK. 

for  he  remembers  how  earnest  both  of  them  were  in 
beseeching  him  to  remain.  Robbery  seems  out  of 
the  question,  and  Jack  never  dreams  that  the  fact  of 
his  having  an  engagement  at  eight  cuts  any  figure 
in  the  matter. 

So  he  is  all  at  sea,  and  the  more  he  ponders  the 
less  able  he  is  to  get  at  the  kernel  which  he  knows 
lies  hidden  somewhere  inside  this  hard,  flinty  outer 
shell. 

Meanwhile  time  has  slipped  by.  It  lacks  less  than 
an  hour  to  midnight  now.  Jack  does  not  smoke  fu 
riously  as  when  with  Don  Carlos,  but  in  a  dreamy 
fashion. 

He  is  seated  near  the  window,  for  the  night  air 
laden  with  the  perfume  of  flowers  that  bloom  in  the 
spring  time  in  sunny  Spain,  seems  unusually  pleas 
ant. 

At  this  hour  it  would  seem  natural  that  the  city 
should  be  growing  more  quiet,  for  every  metropolis 
Jack  has  ever  known  subsides  into  a  more  peaceful 
state  as  the  night  wears  into  the  small  hours.  To 
his  surprise  just  the  contrary  seems  to  be  the  case. 
It  is  much  more  noisy  than  at  ten  o'clock,  when  he 
reached  the  hotel. 

Jack  becomes  interested.  He  even  leans  out  of 
the  window  to  see  what  is  up.  New  lights  have 
sprung  into  existence — even  streets  that  were  ne 
glected  before  now  seem  to  throb  with  a  pulsating 
life,  and  are  in  a  measure  illuminated,  as  though  a 
great  unwritten  law  compels  every  citizen  to  have 
at  least  one  lamp  or  candle  in  his  window. 

The  change  is  amazing — with  every  passing  min 
ute  new  lights  spring  up.  Down  below  he  sees  a 
moving  throng  of  people.  All  seem  light-hearted, 
laughter  and  jest  are  bandied  about,  and  it  is  very 


&QGTOR  JACK.  121 

evident  that  no  serious  business  brings  these  crowds 
abroad. 

Music  is  heard  here,  there,  and  everywhere — dis 
tant  bands  thrill  the  air,  and  quicken  the  pulses, 
groups  on  the  boulevard  sing  snatches  of  songs,  and 
more  than  one  sweet-toned  mandolin  throbs  to  the 
fingers  of  a  music-loving  Spanish  lassie  in  the  courts 
near  by. 

Doctor  Jack  is  amazed — he  rubs  his  eyes  as  though 
under  the  belief  that  he  must  be  dreaming.  What 
does  all  this  mean?  Madrid  has  awakened  from  her 
lethargic  state — she  seems  for  the  time  being  to  out 
rival  Paris  in  gayety.  One  thinks  of  a  royal  wed 
ding,  with  the  whole  city  rejoicing,  but  Jack  knows 
this  cannot  be. 

What  then? 

The  music  grows  in  volume,  and  even  under  his 
eyes  the  crowds  increase.  He  can  see  them  better 
now,  on  account  of  the  light.  If  Jack  has  been 
sleepy  before,  he  was  never  more  wide  awake  than 
now.  Instead  of  abating,  his  interest  grows  with 
the  excitement. 

Looking  at  his  watch  he  finds  that  the  hour  lacks 
just  nine  minutes  of  twelve.  Then  the  idea  strikes 
him  that  these  mercurial  people  are  waiting  for 
midnight,  which  time  will  usher  in  some  great 
holiday. 

He  begins  to  grasp  the  reins,  and  reach  a  solution 
of  the  mystery.  Looking  closer  than  before  he 
realizes  two  things.  The  first  of  these  is  the  fact 
that  there  are  scores  of  women  upon  the  streets  as 
well  as  men,  and  it  is  evident  that  the  night  walkers 
have  now  been  reinforced  by  a  stream  of  respectable 
senoras  and  senoritas  from  the  dwellings. 

What  Doctor  Jack  notices  in  the   second  place  is 


122  DOCTOR  JACK. 

the  fact  that  many  of  these  women  wear  long 
cloaks,  and  their  faces  are  concealed  by  masks, 
while  even  numbers  of  the  men  are  also  masked. 
He  suddenly  iumps  to  his  feet  with  a  laugh. 

"Bless  my  soul,  I  understand  it  all.     At  midnight 
the  great  carnival  begins!" 


D&VTVil  JAi*.  123 


CHAPTER  X, 

A  MESSAGE  BY  SPECIAL  COURIER. 

Once  a  year  Madrid,  in  common  with  all  Latin 
cities,  arouses  from  her  long  sleep,  and  for  three 
days  and  nights  preceding  Lent,  engages  in  the 
most  extravagant  orgies. 

During  this  time  the  people  run  wild,  and  seem 
never  to  sleep — day  and  night  the  streets  are  jammed 
with  crowds  of  pleasure  seekers,  music  fills  the  air 
with  intoxicating  sounds,  revelry  is  in  progress  at 
every  corner,  and  to  look  at  the  light-hearted  peo 
ple  one  would  never  dream  that  they  lived  over  a 
mine,  which  is  liable  to  explode  at  any  moment. 

Soldiers  are  as  thick  as  skippers  in  an  old  cheese, 
their  bright  uniforms  adding  splendor  to  the  scene, 
for  Spain  is  a  country  where  the  restless  populace, 
dreaming  of  liberty  ana  license,  have  to  be  con 
stantly  reminded  of  the  power  resting  with  the  royal 
family — she  has  been  a  republic  before  and  will 
again,  with  the  shining  example  of  France  so  near 
at  hand. 

As  Doctor  Jack  looks  the  bells  of  the  Spanish  capi 
tal  ring  out  the  hour  of  midnight.  It  is  a  signal 
long  anticipated,  since  it  ushers  in  the  carnival 
season.  More  people  flock  out  of  the  houses — the 
brilliant  promenade  below  is  thronged.  In  vain  the 
American  seeks  a  face — at  the  ringing  of  the  bells 
every  countenance  is  covered,  for  it  is  another  un 
written  law  that  from  midnight  to  sunrise  on  these 
three  nights,  no  one  shall  appear  upon  the  streets 
Unmasked — the  penalty  may  be  a  broken  head 


484  DOCTOR  JACK. 

As  Jack  has  never  chanced  to  be  in  the  south  of 
Europe  during  the  carnival  time  he  is  greatly  inter 
ested  in  the  sight,  as  will  be  every  sojourner  in 
Madrid.  Sleep  seems  out  of  the  question  with  such 
a  racket  in  progress,  even  if  he  did  desire  to  ob 
tain  it. 

Leaving  his  room  he  passes  down-stairs  to  see  the 
entertainment  at  shorter  range,  not  that  it  is  his 
intention  to  join  in  just  then,  though  many  foreign 
ers  do  so,  and  become  mixed  up  in  the  brawls  that 
often  occur.  With  all  the  wickedness  that  marks 
the  Spanish  capital  during  the  gay  carnival  season 
at  least  one  good  thing  can  be  said — few  drunken 
men  are  seen.  Light  wines  are  the  drinks  indulged 
in  by  the  people  of  Spain,  rum  seldom  being  used, 
and  whisky  never.  They  may  have  copied  the  ab 
sinthe  drinkers  of  Paris  to  a  certain  degree,  but 
this  serves  to  stupefy  their  minds  like  opium,  and 
not  engender  street  brawls. 

Down  below  Jack  finds  quite  a  throng  gathered 
near  the  doors  to  watch  the  merry  maskers  on  the 
pave  without.  Everyone  seems  to  own  a  mask  of 
some  sort,  and  a  man  stands  by  selling  these  for  a 
few  pesetas  each,  so  the  American  invests,  intend 
ing  to  saunter  down  the  street  and  witness  the 
sights. 

Once  outside  he  joins  in  with  the  throng,  and 
keeps  his  eyes  about  him.  It  is  indeed  a  remarka 
ble  sight  to  look  upon  the  crowds  the  midnight  bells 
of  Madrid  have  called  into  review,  and  Jack  photo 
graphs  them  upon  his  memory  for  future  use. 

Along  the  edges  of  the  sidewalk  are  many  street 
stands,  where  is  seen  the  peddler  of  national  drinks 
or  refrescos,  with  his  botigo  or  Oriental  jar  contain 
ing  the  expressed  juice  of  some  fruit,  mixed  with 


BGCTOR  JAGA.  125 

and  water,  and  as  harmless  as  it  is  agreeable. 
Others  have  a  nobby  little  tin  or  brass  tray,  upon 
which  are  placed  glasses  for  the  different  horchata.s, 
as  the  good  people  of  Madrid  call  these  cooling  non- 
spiritous  drinks. 

Along  the  walk  are  rows  of  orange  trees,  and 
upon  these  colored  lanterns  have  been  placed  at  in 
tervals,  and  are  now  lighted  up,  so  that  with  the 
yellow  gas  jets  the  scene  looks  like  one  of  enchant 
ment. 

Here  and  there  small  crowds  congregate  around 
some  fakir  engaged  in  selling  wonderful  things,  or 
to  watch  the  astonishing  evolutions  and  hear  the 
weird  music  that  accompany  a  sidewalk  gitano  or 
gipsy  dance. 

Everywhere  reigns  an  air  of  mystery — fancy  cos 
tumes,  monks,  chevaliers,  Oriental  warriors,  courtly 
dames,  flower  girls,  and  almost  every  imaginable 
character  we  see  in  our  greatest  masque  balls  are 
to  be  met  with. 

Mad  revelry  abounds — every  one  appears  deter 
mined  to  be  as  happy  and  careless  as  his  or  her 
neighbor,  so  that  when  the  carnival  season  is  over 
every  soul  will  gladly  welcome  Lent,  which  seems 
to  be  the  idea  of  all  this  merriment,  the  old  adage 
holding  good,  "Let  us  eat,  drink,  and  be  merry,  for 
to-morrow  we — mourn." 

So  Madrid  enters  upon  the  fun.  The  merriment  is 
as  a  general  thing  good-natured,  and  free  from  riot 
or  rudeness.  Whatever  dark  secrets  may  be  work 
ing  beneath  the  surface,  on  top  all  is  apparently  in 
nocent  enjoyment. 

From  the  balconies  of  houses  fair  senoritas.  whose 
guardians  are  too  strict  to  allow  chem  upon  tho 


JOb  DOCTOR  JACK. 

streets,  have  enjoyment  of  their  own   in 
the  procession  below. 

At  times  they  toss  a  flower  to  this  courtly  knight 
who  has  found  favor  in  their  eyes,  or  drop  rice  down 
the  back  of  a  more  than  usually  hideous  gnome  who 
delights  in  the  shudder  his  awful  appearance  causes. 

Jack  is  greatly  amused  by  the  kaleidoscopic 
changes  around  him.  Something  in  his  quiet  de 
meanor  attracts  the  very  attention  he  would  avoid, 
and  more  than  one  unknown  charmer  ventures  to  ad 
dress  him.  These  may  be  the  most  respectable  of 
senoras,  for  the  mystery  of  mask  and  domino  gives 
them  assurance  and  license  to  a  certain  degree,  but 
Jack  pays  little  or  no  attention  to  their  laughing 
words. 

Various  processions  pass  him  by,  and  suddenly 
one  comes  that  gives  him  a  shock.  He  hear?  a 
cocotte  standing  near  him  take  up  the  cry  that 
Bounds  down  the  boulevard.  What  is  it  she  is  call 
ing:  "The  hero  of  the  bull-fight?" 

Presently  the  excitement  increases,  and  a  little 
party  arrive,  bearing  on  their  shoulders  a  square 
platform  in  which  rests  a  chair,  and  this  is  occupied 
by  a  masked  man,  who  sits  there  with  folded  arms, 
gravely  bowing,  at  times  kissing  his  hand  to  the 
eenoritas  above,  now  almost  wild  with  excitement, 

Doctor  Jack  is  At  first  indignant,  and  then  he 
laughs  as  though  amused.  This  man  has  been 
gotten  up  to  imitate  himself,  and  with  such  success 
that  the  platform  is  fairly  covered  with  flowers 
tossed  upon  the  hero  by  the  hands  of  Madrid's  dark- 
eyed  daughters. 

Now  they  are  close  by — the  American  athlete 
could  with  one  spring  gain  that  pla*-t'orm,  and  hurl 


U<H:T<Jh   JA(H  15*7 

the  mork  bull-fighter  to  the  groiuul :  but  the  tempta 
tion  i-omes  arid  goes  instantly. 

"Let  him  have  his  fun — unless  I  am  mistaken  he 
will  pay  for  it  before  morning."  he  mutters,  and 
there  is  truth  in  his  words,  for,  although  all  the 
women  go  wild  over  the  supposed  hero  of  the  great 
est  bull-tight  Madrid  ever  saw,  there  are  many  dark 
scowls  oast  after  the  cavalcade  by  the  male  portions 
of  the  revelers  could  one  but  peep  beneath  their 
masks — these  are  the  friends  of  the  defeated  Pedro 
Vasqu^x.  who  hate  the  man  upon  whose  head  rests 
the  laurels  that  should  have  come  to  their  favorite 
god. 

So  the  cavalcade  wends  its  way  down  the  Del 
Prarto  amid  a  hurricane  of  shouts  and  tremendous 
excitement,  heading  for  the  thoroughfare  that  leads 
to  the  grand  central  plaza,  the  Puerta  del  Sol,  where 
the  greatest  sights  are  to  be  witnessed  on  these  gate 
occasions. 

Jack  quenches  his  thirst  with  some  lemonade 
from  a  stand  near  by,  and  starting  a  cigar  continues 
his  stroll.  Other  strange  sights  greet  his  eyes,  and 
even  his  cold  Northern  blood  is  to  a  certain  degree 
fired  by  the  music  and  the  gayety  around  him,  so 
that  he  can  readily  perceive  how  these  warm  Span 
ish  people  give  way  to  the  excitement  of  the  carni 
val. 

He  smiles  grimly  when  he  hears  a  great  racket 
far  down  the  street,  and  makes  up  his  mind  that  the 
bogus  Doctor  Jack  has  already  come  to  grief,  the 
bull-fighter's  friends  having  probably  pelted  him 
with  oranges,  and  perhaps  dragged  him  through  the 
street  mud. 

The  mad  scene  goes  on,  and  fresh  actors  in  it  seem 
to  be  continually  coming  and  going.  Until  the  mid- 


fl*  &OCTOR  JACK. 

night  bells  announce  again  that  the  three  days  of  jol 
lity  are  past,  and  Lent  ushered  in,  Madrid  will  be  in 
one  continual  ferment,  day  and  night  pranks  will  be 
played  and  strange  scenes  enacted,  each  citizen 
vieing  with  his  neighbors  in  producing  noise  by  day 
and  illmuination  by  night,  or  adding  new  features 
to  the  parade  of  masks  upon  he  public  streets. 

Jack  stops  to  witness  the  feats  of  an  East  Indian 
juggler  and  sword  swallower,  who  exhibits  on  the 
street  corner,  surrounded  by  a  curious  crowd  of 
masked  persons.  Several  flaming  swinging  lamps 
smote  round  him — the  odor  of  oil  is  strong,  the 
weird  costumes  of  the  audience  striking,  and  the 
feats  of  the  juggler  something  out  of  the  ©rdinary. 

An  attendant  passes  a  little  basket  around,  and 
the  crowd  is  disposed  to  be  liberal,  judging  from  the 
reals  and  pesetas  that  jingle  within  it  as  he  ends  hig 
share  of  the  labor.  Then  the  star  of  the  combination 
begins  business. 

Jack  watches  him  curiously,  and  before  the  man 
has  gone  far  makes  up  his  mind  that  this  is  not  the 
first  time  he  and  the  juggler  have  met,  although 
the  last  time  he  saw  Ben  Achmed  was  upon  the 
dusty  street  of  Delhi  in  India. 

It  is  a  little  singular  that  he  should  run  across  the 
juggler  again  so  far  away  from  Hindostan,  and 
Jack  believes  he  will  wait  until  the  performance  is 
over,  when  he  may  have  a  few  words  with  the  other. 

Leaning  against  a  neighboring  tree,  he  smokes  his 
cigar,  which  luxury  the- half  mask  allows,  watch 
ing  the  drifting  crowds,  the  weird  actions  of  the 
juggler,  and  listening  to  the  jargon  of  sounds. 

From  this  state  of  reverie  something  finally 
arouses  him.  A  familiar  figure  heaves  in  sight- 
surely  there  can  be  no  mistaking  that  dudish  dress 


JtttfTOJI 

e\en  if  a  half  mask  does  hide  the  face  of  Cousin 
Larry.  The  New  York  sport  is  out  to  see  the  sights, 
and  perhaps  take  a  hand  in  any  frolic. 

As  he  is  passing  by  his  name  is  uttered  by  Jack,  to 
whom  the  little  fellow  is  soon  talking.  The  athlete 
thinks  more  of  Larry  since  the  exhibition  in  the 
hotel.  Then  again  he  is  a  cousin  to  Avis — that 
founts  for  something. 

"What!  you,  Doctor  Jack,  I  thought  I  saw  a  fel 
low  of  your  size  riding  by  on  a  sedan  chair,  the 
women  cheering,  the  men  cursing,  but  made  up  my 
tnind  I  was  mistaken,"  says  Larry,  grasping  the  out 
stretched  hand  eagerly,  for  he  takes  quick  likings, 
and,  unbeknown  to  the  others,  witnessed  the  bull 
fight  of  the  afternoon,  so  that  he  looks  up  to  the  doc 
tor  as  a  hero. 

Jack  tells  him  about  the  impostor,  and  they  both 
laugh.  Then  the  little  man  grows  serious  again. 

"Do  you  know,  I  was  on  my  way  to  your  hotel, 
Doctor  Jack — I  believe  it  is  on  this  dused  street,  is 
it  not?"  he  asks. 

"That  is  the  building  yonder,  where  the  great 
lantern  is  hanging — but  what  brings  you  here?" 

Doctor  Jack's  curiosity  is  a^ain  aroused — we  have 
seen,  that  he  possesses  a  fair  amount  of  this  womanly 
trait.  Why  should  he  not  feel  a  desire  to  know  the 
cause  of  Larry's  coming  when  the  latter  is  her 
cousin?  Just  now  the  whole  world  revolves  around 
Avis  Morton — Jack  has  jumped  into  a  new  sphere 
during  the  last  twelve  hours — we  shall  see  in  time 
whether  he  can  play  at  lover  as  well  as  at  bull 
fighter. 

"My  pedal  extremities,  to  be  sure.  I  tried  to  get  a 
carriage,  but  as  beastly  luck  would  have  it  they 
were  all  taken.  Then  I  started  to  walk,  and  before 


I  ha<l  taken  ten  paces  an  impudent  alquazil  tapped 
me  on  the  arm,  and  informed  me  I  would  not  be  al 
lowed  on  the  public  streets  while  the  carnival 
lasted,  at  night  any  way,  without  a  mask,  sc  I  had 
to  stop  at  a  fakir's,  and  be  robbed  for  once,  jtist 
then  he  said  they  were  worth  their  weight  in  oro,  he 
called  it,  which,  1  take  it,  means  gold.  Then  1  was 
pushed  and  knocked  about  a  good  deal,  but  in  spite 
of  all  here's  Larry  Kennedy  right  side  up  with 
care,  and  don't  you  forget  it." 

The  dude  is  long-winded — he  likes  to  hear  himself 
talk,  and  drawls  so  that  it  is  misery  for  Jack  to 
listen.  The  latter  thinks  he  knows  a  way  to  hurry 
old  slowbones  up,  which  plan  he  stands  ready  to 
adopt  if  necessary. 

"Now  that  you've  found  the  hotel,  what  do  you 
want  with  it,  Larry?"  he  questions 

"After  all,  now  that  I  think  of  it,  the  hotel  wasn't 
what  I  was  looking  for." 

"Ah!"  from  Doctor  Jack,  who  holds  his  breath, 
for  he  sees  the  dude  thrust  his  hand  into  a  pocket  as 
if  in  search  of  something. 

"It  was  you  I  wanted,  Doctor  Jack." 

"What  for,  my  dear  man?" 

The  hand  comes  out  of  the  pocket — it  holds  sonn- 
thing,  and  the  sharp  eyes  of  Doctor  Jack  detect  i 
bit  of  white  paper.  His  heart  gives  a  throb — it  is  a 
message  from  Avis. 

In  a  moment  of  time  various  thoughts  and  specu 
lations  flash  through  his  brain.  What  can  Avis 
want?  Has  she  learned  something  since  their  part 
ing  that  has  a  bearing  on  the  purposed  mission?  He 
remembers  that  the  pasha  was  about  the  Peninsular 
at  the  time,  and  Larry  with  him. 

These    things   flit   through   his   brain   in   a   much 


VOVTVR  JACK.  131 

r  space  of  time  than  it  takes  to  read  them  in 
Larry  holds  out  his  hand. 

"That  will  explain  my  presence,  doctor,"  he  said, 
languidly,  but  his  indifference  is  assumed,  as  indeed 
many  of  his  moods  are — there  is  more  fire  concealed 
under  this  affected  cool  and  deliberate  exterior  than 
one  could  imagine. 

Endeavoring  to  be  calm,  Doctor  Jack  unfolds  tb.3 
paper.  His  hands  tremble  a  little.  The  paper  has  be 
come  somewhat  crumpled  in  the  dude's  pocket,  but 
leaning  over  so  that  the  light  from  the  four  smoky 
flambaux  of  the  Indian  sword-swallower  may  fall 
upon  it.  Jack  reads. 

He  immediately  gives  an  exclamation,  and  bends 
closer,  Larry  watching  him  with  a  smile,  his  slender 
figure  drawn  up  a  la  Napoleon,  as  though  he  deems 
Himself  of  considerable  importance  just  at  this  mo 
ment. 

"Jove!  this  is  singular!"  mutters  Jack. 

Then  he  looks  up,  an  odd  smile  crossing  his  face 
which  the  half  mask  hides — he  has  suddenly  caught 
a  glimmer  of  the  truth. 

"Ah!  you  appear  puzzled,"  says  Larry. 

"Well,  yes.  There  seems  a  cipher  needed  here  to 
set  me  straight,"  responds  the  other. 

So  Larry  straightens  his  slender  legs,  throws  out 
his  chest,  pulls  at  the  awfully  diminutive  mustache 
fiercely,  and  rapping  on  his  breast  as  a  Booth  or  a 
Barrett  might  he  cries : 

"Look  on  me— I — I  am  the  missing  link." 

Doctor  Jack,  rememberng  his  first  opinion  that  the 
dude  resembled  a  monkey,  inwardly  chuckles  to 
think  how  near  the  mark  these  words  may  be  con 
strued— children  and  fools  always  speak  the  truth, 
tbov  sav. 


IfcJ  tJOCTOK  JACK. 

"I  presume  this  note  does  refer  to  you,  my  good 
fellow,  but  I  am  afraid  it  was  never  intended  for  my 
eyes  " 

"Oh!  yes,  no  doubt  of  that.  Just  read  it  out,  and 
then  I'll  explain." 

So  Jack  once  more  bends  over  and  reads,  in  a  voice 
that  the  other  can  easily  hear  above  the  jargon  of 
sounds  on  the  street,  the  contents  of  the  note  given 
to  him : 

"Four  doois  below  Monsieur  Blanc's  conservatory 
of  music — will  meet  you  between  two  and  four  this 
day,  my  charming  Larry.  T  have  not  forgotten 
your  vows  in  the  garden  of  the  Tuilleries,  and  I 
swear  to  you  that  I  love  no  other  man  as  I  do  you. 
Beware  lest  you  meet  my  guardian,  for " 

Doctor  Jack  stops. 

A  hand  is  laid  on  his  arm,  and  looking  up  he  sees 
the  face  of  the  dude  close  to  his  own. 

"You  were  right,  doctor;  I  did  make  a  beastly 
mistake.  That  is  a  billet  doux  from  a  chawming  little 
cweature  in  Paris.  Turned  out  she  had  another 
'over — we  met  at  the  house — he  punctured  me  with 
tt  sword  in  the  arm,  and  I  gave  him  a  bullet  that 
kept  him  in  the  hospital  de  la  charite  for  two  weeks. 
I  was  arrested,  but  proved  to  be  the  assaulted 
pawty,  so  they  let  me  off,"  gabbles  the  little  man. 

"But  my  note — come,  man,  let  me  have  it,"  cries 
Jack,  on  needles  and  pins.  He  feels  as  though  it 
would  do  him  good  to  seize  hold  of  this  fellow  and 
shake  some  animation  into  his  Blow  moving  body, 
but  fears  the  man  might  fall  to  pieces  on  his  hands, 
he  is  so  wonderfully  made  up. 

"I'm  getting*  at  it.  Patience,  good  doctor.  YOUT 
class  of  men  have  to  exercise  a  deal  of  it,  I 


DOG'iOR  JACK.  133 

here's  another  document — let's  see  if  it  is  what 
we  are  after." 

Larry  is  not  so  reckless  with  his  papers  now — per 
haps  he  has  other  private  affairs  he  does  not  wish 
the  public  to  see.  So  he  glances  cautiously  at  this 
document  ere  handing  it  over  to  the  tender  mercies 
of  the  scoffer. 

This  seems  more  like  it — Jack  reads : 

"There  is  trouble  for  you,  Doctor  Jack,  here— 
now — in  Madrid.  You  have  enemies.  By  accident 
Cousin  Larry  learned  something  of  their  plotting. 
You  can  trust  him  through  anything.  To  get  at  the 
pith  of  the  matter  ask  him  questions.  He  admires 
you,  and  stands  ready  to  do  anything  he  can." 

Her  name  is  at  the  bottom — Avis  Morton. 

"Come,"  says  Jack,  decisively,  taking  the  arm  of 
the  New  York  dude  in  his  own,  "we  will  go  to  some 
place  where  we  can  talk  unheard,  and  there  you 
shall  tell  me  what  this  means." 

"I'm  quite  agweeable.  doctor,"  lisps  Larry. 

So  they  leave  the  juggler  and  his  admirers  behind, 
turning  their  backs  on  the  smoky  flambeaux,  and 
pusl*  a  passage  through  the  crowd  toward  the  fonda. 


134  DOCTOR  JACK. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

LARRY    LOOMS    UP. 

Jack's  first  thought  is  of  the  hotel,  where,  in  the 
quiet  of  his  room,  they  may  engage  in  a  conversa 
tion  uninterrupted.  He  has  already  passed  over  half 
the  distance,  and  the  fonda  seems  near  at  hand  when 
he  becomes  aware  of  the  fact  that  his  companion  de 
sires  to  stop,  so  a  halt  is  called. 

"Beg  pardon,  doctor,  but  are  you  heading  for  that 
caravansary  yondah?"  asks  Cousin  Larry. 

"Certainly.  I  have  a  room  there.  Over  a  bottle 
of  wine  we  can  discuss  this  matter,"  replies  the 
athlete,  wondering  what  is  in  the  wind. 

The  dude  makes  a  Iialf  way  French  shrug  that  at 
another  time  would  have  amused  Jack  more  than 
words  could  tell,  but  just  now  he  has  his  mind  occu 
pied  with  other  tilings. 

"The  temptation  is  strong,  but  the  wisk  is  too 
great,  my  boy." 

"Risk!  What  theduse  do  you  mean,  Larry?  They 
know  me  here — the  best  the  house  affords  is  at  my 
service,"  cries  Jack. 

"Yes,  they  know  you — that's  it.  For  me  to  be 
seen  in  your  company  is  dangerous." 

"Eh?     I  don't  comprehend,"  gasps  the  doctor. 

Larry  bends  his  head  over,  for  there  is  a  noisy 
band  bearing  down  upon  them,  filling  the  air  with 
some  national  melody,  and  the  crowd  of  masked  stu 
dents  accompany  it  shouting  a  college  song  at  the 
top  of  their  lungs,  so  that  the  dude  is  compelled  to 
give  his  shrill  voice  full  play  in  order  to  be  heard. 


DOCTOR  JAVA.  »3& 

"Because  you  are  a  marked  man,  Doctor  Jack,"  is 
the  astonishing-  declaration  he  makes.  "There  is  a 
big  conspiracy  against  you  right  here  in  the  city  of 
Madrid. 

"What  has  that  to  do  with  not  entering  the  hotel, 
may  1  ask?" 

"Everything.  An  enemy  is  there  on  the  watch. 
He  'would  see  us  together.  Thej7"  would  believe  I 
had  warned  you,  and  a  beastly  rness  would  come  of 
it,  for  don't  ye  see  I'm  supposed  to  be  on  the  other 
side —that's  how  I  picked  up  my  information,  pre 
tending  to  be  as  mad  as  the  duse  at  you  because  you 
seemed  to  have  found  favor  in  the  eyes  of  my  cousin 
— I  am  very  particular  who  she  makes  up  with,  don't 
ye  know,  for  once  I  thought  I'd  have  her  myself, 
'pon  'onah,  only  Avis  argued  me  out  of  it,  deah  girl." 

Some  men  would  get  angry  at  such  talk,  but  Jack 
cannot — he  knows  Larry  is  a  conceited  fool — under 
his  breath  he  calls  him  a  jackass,  but  it  is  also  dead 
certain  that  the  little  man  is  wiser  than  surface  in 
dications  would  promise.  His  present  errand  proves 
it,  and  Jack  is  not  the  one  to  find  fault  with  a  little 
eccentricity,  for  it  serves  as  a  spice  to  flavor  the  soup. 

So  he  makes  out  that  he  is  highly  pleased,  presses 
the  dude's  hand  warmly,  and  howls  in  his  ear — the 
villainous  band  is  just  passing. 

"Awful  glad  to  know  you  don't  object  to  my  cut 
ting  you  out  with  Miss  Avis.  You  know  that's  the 
fate  of  cousins,  anyhow.  If  I'm  ever  so  lucky  as  to 
succeed  you  shall  be  my  best  man,  Larry. " 

The  plot  thickens — Larry  tumbles  into  the  pit  dug 
for  him  by  the  scheming  lover,  and  shakes  Jack's 
hand  in  return. 

"Thanks,  awfully,  doctor — count  on  me." 

"And  now  let's  move  back  here  a  piece.   I 


134  DOCTOR  JACK. 

ber  a  spot  where  we  can  talk — a  nice  quiet  place," 
shouts  the  other. 

They  soon  reach  the  quarter  Jack  has  reference  to 
— it  does  promise  them  a  chance  for  a  quiet  talk, 
being  a  little  refreshment  saloon,  gaudily  lighted  up 
for  the  occasion,  but  as  yet  not  well  patronized,  for 
the  weird  scenes  upon  the  street  keep  every  one  on 
the  qui  vive. 

Entering  here,  Doctor  Jack  selects  a  table  just 
around  a  corner,  where  they  will  not  be  in  view 
from  the  open  doors.  A  black-eyed  Spanish  girl 
takes  their  order,  and  refreshments  are  speedily 
served. 

Besides  themselves  there  are  a  few  persons  in  the 
refresco  shop,  and  the  noise  from  the  street  is  heard 
with  less  violence,  so  they  can  talk  with  some  sense 
of  security.  A  stout  man,  in  the  guise  of  a  monk, 
cowled  and  masked;  enters  and  seats  himself  not  far 
away.  Two  students  are  treating  a  couple  of  in- 
amoritas  at  another  table,  the  party  laughing  and 
giggling  as  the  young  men  endeavor  to  discover 
who  their  companions  are,  the  girls  seeming  to 
know  them. 

Now  and  then  the  outside  roar  increases,  and 
then  dies  away  again — a  strange  noise  it  is,  taken 
altogether,  and  one  that  would  puzzle  a  stranger  in 
Madrid,  aroused  from  his  midnight  slumbers  with 
visions  of  bloody  revolution,  perhaps,  or  the  terrors 
of  the  dread  earthquake  that  once  destroyed  Lisbon. 

Doctor  Jack  is  not  the  man  to  beat  about  the  bush 
— he  goes  straight  at  the  mark  every  time,  and  hits 
the  bull's-eye.  So  he  takes  Larry  in  hand,  remem 
bering  the  instructions  written  by  Avis — he  has  that 
note  in  the  pocket  next  his  heart,  by  the  way. 

"Now,  teli  me  what  you  know,  Larry,  and  kindly 


DOCTOR  JACK.  13? 

make  the  story  to  the  point.  If  I  desire  additional 
information  at  any  place  I  shall  not  hesitate  to 
break  in  and  ask  a  question." 

This  is  the  kind  of  talk  that  Larry  likes — he  wants 
a  man  to  take  hold  of  him  firmly — most  men  treat 
him  as  though  he  were  a  fool,  and  handle  him  as  if 
they  thought  he  would  break.  He  is  ready  to  swear 
by  Doctor  J  ack.  The  latter  is  surprised  to  see  him 
toss  aside  his  flippant  mood  as  one  might  a  vail,  and 
for  the  time  being  show  something  of  the  real  spirit 
behind,  Even  his  lisp  is  gone,  and  he  talks  like 
other  human  beings,  and  not  a  conceited  puppy. 

"You  know,  doctor,  I  have  been  arm  in  arm  with 
that  Turkish  pasha — had  a  sneaking  notion  from  the 
start  he  was  cultivating  my  acquaintance  with  an 
object  in  view — believed  it  was  the  same  old  story, 
dead  gone  on  my  cousin,  and  played  him  for  a  fool, 
but  I  was  wrong — dead  wrong.  He  had  another 
game  in  view. 

"I  soon  got  on  to  it,  and  found  it  was  hate  instead 
of  love.  You  were  the  man.  At  once  I  became  in 
sanely  jealous,  raved  over  Avis,  and  muttered 
threats  against  Doctor  Jack,  all  of  which  seemed  to 
tickle  the  old  pasha. 

"I  thought  he  might  take  me  into  the  game,  but 
he  was  cautious — not  that  he  suspected  my  feelings 
in  the  matter,  but,  doubtless,  had  little  faith  in  my 
ability  to  aid  him.  Then  he  saw  ,  a  chance  to  utilize 
me  as  a  tool  or  a  fool,  and  gradually  I  picked  up 
points. 

"There  is  a  deep  plot  against  you,  doctor,  and  a 
number  of  persons  seem  to  be  interested  in  it. 
Among  others  there  is  Pedro  Vasquez,  the  bull 
fighter  you  outgeneraled  at  the  pavilion — I  saw  the 
thing,  and  was  proud  of  you.  It  was  lucky  you 


138  UUtnUK  JACK. 

jumped  when  you  did,  for  my  blood  was  boiling  at 
the  insult  offered  America,  and,  'pon  'onah.  I  wag 
just  about  to  step  forward  myself." 

•lack  never  had  such  a  hard  tussle  with  his  fea 
tures  in  his  whole  life — he  manages  to  keep  them 
straight,  but  it  is  a  severe  strain — the  thought  of  the 
New  York  dude  facing  that  mad  old  toro  is  inexpres 
sibly  comical,  and  he  may  laugh  heartily  at  another 
time,  but  just  now  he  does  not  want  to  hurt  Larry's 
feelings. 

Again,  there  may  be  more  grit  to  the  square  inch 
in  this  little  body  than  most  big  men  carry  with 
them.  Jack  has  not  forgotten  the  scene  in  the  hotel, 
where  Larry  knocked  the  big  bully  out  who  was  try 
ing  to  pick  a  quarrel  with  him. 

"Besides  Pedro,  who  else?"  asks  Jack,  anxious  to 
keep  the  other  on  the  right  tack. 

"There's  the  rascally  old  pasha — perhaps  you 
know  why  he  hates  you  so,  for  I  don't." 

"Yes,  I'll  tell  you  all  about  it  later  on.  It  concerns 
a  brother  of  Avis  Morton's." 

"What!  Aleck!    The  duse  you  say." 

"Go  on,  please.  You  shall  hear  the  story  when 
your  own  is  done.'* 

This  is  an  incentive  to  urge  Larry  on,  and  he  goes 
into  further  detail. 

"Besides,  there  is  another  in  the  deal — a  man  you 
have  called  a  friend." 

"Is  his  name  Don  Carlos?" 

"That's  it  exactly.  So  you  see  here's  a  trium 
virate  plotting  trouble.  You  must  skip  from  this 
beastly  city,  doctor,  and  give  'em  the  slip." 

Doctor  Jack  shows  no  sign  of  excitement — his 
manner  is  calm,  and  the  hand  that  raises  the  glass 
without  a  tremor.  The  man  who  dared  co  conquer— 


UVVTOK  JAVJL  131 

all  unprepared  for  the  encounter  as  he  vvas — the  ter 
ror  of  the  arena  twelve  hours  before,  after  the  pride 
of  Madrid  had  been  tossed  out  on  the  horns  of  the 
mad  toro  is  not  apt  to  show  the  white  feather  be 
cause  a  new  kind  of  danger  menaces.  He  will  meet 
it  with  the  same  unflinching  front  he  showed  the 
raging  bull,  quick  to  take  advantage  of  an  adver- 
ary's  mistake,  and  always  ready. 

He  has  another  question  to  put,  though  somehow 
he  seems  to  hesitate  about  it,  as  if  the  subject  were 
far  from  pleasant. 

"Tell  me,  Larr}r,  was  there  any  hint  dropped  about 
a  fourth  party — a  female?" 

"Yes,  to  be  sure — 1  had  forgotten.  What's 
coming  over  this  head  of  mine?  There  is  a  womai> 
in  the  deal — he  said  she  was  beautiful,  and  would 
make  you  forget  all  about  Avis.  See  here,  now  that 
I  think  of  it,  she  must  be  that  darling  you  were 
with  when  I  met  you  in  the  old  curiosity  shop  they 
call  a  museum." 

"It  is  Mercedes."  says  Jack,  sadly,  for  somehov 
the  thought  that  this  beautiful  creature  is  connected 
with  the  plot  against  his  life  gives  him  pain — he 
does  not  understand  why  it  should  be  so,  but  the  facts 
are  as  plain  as  day. 

What  strange  motive  can  Don  Carlos  and  his  niece 
have  for  their  action?  Surely  it  is  not  robbery,  for 
in  what  manner  would  they  profit  by  his  death? 
There  is  some  deeper,  darker  mystery  back  of  it  all, 
and  he  cannot  hope  to  pick  up  any  crumbs  from 
Larry — still  there  is  no  barm  in  trying. 

"The  Turk  did  not  take  you  into  his  full  con- 
fidence,  I  presume,  old  fellow?"  he  queries. 

"No,  but  he  gave  promise  of  doing  so  if  I  would 
consent  to  join  them.  You  see,  he  talks  hrolcen 


140  DOCTOR  JACK. 

English,  and  as  I  have  not  burnished  up  my  Turk 
ish  tongue  lately,  we  did  not  get  on  as  well  as  we 
might."  Larry  says  this  with  a  peculiar  smirk,  for 
as  a  linguist,  he  is  a  dead  failure,  knowing  nothing 
but  his  mother  tongue,  and  precious  little  of  that, 
some  of  his  acquaintances  are  fain  to  believe. 

"I  am  bothered  over  one  thing.  Pedro  has  a  cause 
for  hating  me — he  is  a  Spaniard,  and  I  am  the  man 
who  supplanted  him  in  the  fickle  affection  of  the 
public.  As  for  the  Turk,  there  is  abundant  reason 
why  he  should  wish  to  see  me  sent,  Mazeppa-like, 
over  the  plains  of  Tartary  on  the  back  of  a  wild 
horse,  but  for  the  life  of  me  I  can't  understand  why 
Don  Carlos,  whose  life  I  saved  in  the  Pyrenees,  and 
his  lovely  niece  should  conspire  against  me.  Per 
haps  you  can  throw  some  light  on  the  subject,  my 
good  friend.'* 

But  Larry  shakes  his  head — he  is  unable  to  solve 
the  mystery  that  puzzles  Jack. 

"It  seems  to  me  unreasonable  that  a  man  like  this 
Spaniard  should  join  in  the  hue  and  cry  against  you. 
He's  of  noble  blood,  and  owes  you  much,  because, 
as  you  say,  you  saved  his  life  when  bear-hunting.  I 
have  no  clew  that  will  open  the  mystery,  but  I  am 
convinced  there  must  be  some  deep  secret  back  of  it. 
Are  you  sure  you  have  given  him  no  cause  for  such 
undying  hatred?"  , 

It  is  Larry  who  turns  cross-questioner  now,  and 
somehow  Jack  does  not  think  it  odd.  He  answers  in 
all  frankness. 

"Never — I  am  sure  of  it.  We  have  been  good 
friends  ever  since  we  met  in  Paris.  I  cannot  remem 
ber  having  offended  him  by  word  or  look." 

"What  was  the  nature  of  your  meeting?"  Larry 
is  endeavoring  to  probe  around  much  after  the  man- 


DOCTOR  JACK.  141 

ner  of  a  young  surgeon  searching  for  a  ball  which 
he  hopes  to  hit  by  chance. 

"Well,  now  that  you  speak  of  it,  our  meeting  was 
a  trifle  singular.  Let  me  briefly  narrate  it.  I  have 
spent  many  months  in  Paris,  and  am  familiar  with 
almost  every  part  of  the  city,  even  beyond  those 
places  generally  gazed  upon  by  the  average  tourist. 

''One  night  I  was  returning  to  my  quarters  with  a 
friend,  who,  by  the  way,  is  a  Spaniard,  the  Duke 
Arroyo,  when  he  proposed  that  we  peep  in  upon  a 
secret  meeting  of  some  sort,  I've  forgotten  what. 
He  had  the  entree,  and  I  saw  a  good  deal  of  mum 
mery,  but  to  this  day  I've  never  been  able  to  decide 
whether  the  Spaniards  in  that  den  were  plotting  for 
or  against  the  present  dynasty  in  Spain — I  know  no« 
whether  they  were  republicans,  followers  of  Don 
Carlos,  the  Pretender,  or  of  the  present  government- 

"However,  it  was  here  I  met  Senor  Carlos — we 
became  friends  under  these  rather  peculiar  circum 
stances,  and  he  has  stuck  close  to  me  ever  since  tha.t 
hour.  I  cannot,  see  any  explanation  in  that  account 
of  our  meeting  to  justify  this  strange  enmity  on  his 
part. ' 

"  'Pon  'onah!  now,  but  I  do! Ms  the  startling  an 
nouncement  the  dude  makes,  much  to  the  astonish 
ment  of  Doctor  Jack,  whose  respect  for  the  monkey- 
man  increases  the  more  he  sees  of  him. 

"Explain  it,  then,  my  dear  fellow,"  he  begs.    • 

Larry  glances  around  cautiously,  not  that  he  has 
any  idea  of  being  overheard,  but  because  what  he  is 
about  to  say  might  involve  him  in  trouble  if  hostile 
ears  did  catch  it,  then  close  to  Doctor  Jack's  tym 
panum  he  says. 

"Those  men  you  saw  in  council  were  the  trusted 
adherents  of  Don  Carlos,  who  has  never  given  over 


JACK. 

plotting  to  snatch  the  throne  of  Spain.  At  the  time, 
the  Duke  Arroyo  was  esteemed  one  of  their  most 
trusted  friends,  and  any  person  he  brought  with  him 
could  be  greeted  with  warmth,  and  a  feeling  that  he 
was  true  blue.  Are  you  following  me,  doctor?" 

Jack  nods  eagerly — the  truth  already  begins  to 
dawn  upon  his  mind.  He  realizes  that  a  strange 
freak  of  fate  has  hurled  him  into  an  arena  far  more 
dangerous  than  the  one  that  held  the  black  toro — 
the  battle-field  of  human  passions  and  plottings, 
where  men — and  women,  too — scheme  for  power, 
sworn  to  stand  by  their  cause  no  ir  atter  at  what 
sacrifice.  He  has  unwittingly  become  mixed  up  in 
Spanish  political  intrigues — a  worse  fate  could  not 
well  overtake  a  man. 

"Since  that  time  it  has  been  discovered  that  the 
duke  is  a  royal  spy.  sent  by  the  present  government 
to  learn  the  plans  of  the  plotters,  and  he  is  a  marked 
man,  doomed  to  death.  You,  as  his  friend,  have 
been  put  on  the  same  footing — perhaps  certain  things 
you  have  done  make  them  believe  beyond  a  doubt 
that  instead  of  a  wealthy  American  you  are  paid  out 
of  government  funds  to  watch  the  friends  of  the  plot 
ting  Don  Carlos.  At  any  rate  this  seems  to  me  to  be 
the  whole  truth." 

Jack  puts  out  his  hand,  tiiid  seizes  the  diminutive 
member  of  Larry  Kennedy,  which  he  shakes  with  a 
gravity  quite  natural  to  him — for  he  is  not  impulsive 
in  his  ways. 

"As  sure  as  I  live  I  believe  you  have  struck  the 
truth — it  is  a  most  reasonable  explanation  of  this 
deep  mystery.  There  is  only  one  thing  puzzling  me 

BOW." 

"What  may  that  be?     Perhaps  I  ran  prove  to  bt*  a 


LQCTOR  JALK.  14J 

magician  in  that  case  also,"  laughs  the  strange  lit 
tle  man. 

"1  am  wondering  how  you,  Lawrence  Kennedy, 
of  New  York,  come  to  know  these  things?" 

The  dude's  laugh  freezes  on  his  lips,  and  when  he 
turns  directly  toward  Jack  to  look  him  in  the  face — 
they  have  removed  their  half  masks  long  before — 
the  athh3t3  can  detect  the  slightest  shadow  of  anx 
iety  upon  that  queer  physiognomy,  as  though  Larry 
realizes  the  fact  that  he  is  playing  with  fire. 

"Doctor,  there  need  be  no  secrets  between  us.  To 
tell  you  the  truth.  I  belong  to  the  revolutionist  party 
myself,"  he  announces,  with  a  forced  grin. 

"The  duse  you  do.  Really,  you  are  the  last  person 
I  should  expect  to  find  meddling  with  such  danger 
ous  business.  Couldn't  you  find  excitement  enousrh 
in  hunting  or  kindred  sports  without  risking  your 
neck  in  this  way?" 

The  other  assumes  an  air  of  importance  that  ill 
becomes  his  small  stature. 

"I  preferred  to  engage  in  a  game  that  required 
the  exercise  of  brains,  for  do  you  know  T  am  some- 
tiling  of  a  Richelieu  in  my  way.  These  parties 
wanted  an  American  representative,  and  I  joined 
them.  Oh!  I'm  a  double-dyed  plotter,  and  don't 
you  forget  it,  doctor.  That  is  how  I  got  on  the 
track  of  your  game — I  knew  about  the  duke,  and 
your  mention  of  him  put  me  on  the  scent,  you  know." 

"Well,  this  is  a  singular  business,  I  must  say,  all 
around.  I  wonder  if  I  could  convince  your  friends 
that  I  have  no  interest  in  exposing  them — that  the 
duke  was  but  a  casual  acquaintance  of  mine,  and 
that  not  for  worlds  would  I  betray  them?" 

Jack  is  serious,  because  he  has  other  matters  on 


144  DOCTOR  JAOK. 

his  mind,  and  does  not  care  to  be  mixed  up  in   this 
political  intrigue. 

"Once  the  gun  is  aimed  it  is  next  to  impossible  to 
check  its  fire.  I  know  what  these  men  and  women 
are,  what  terrible  oaths  they  have  taken  upon  them 
selves,  and  the  fate  they  doom  an  informer  to.  Per 
haps  by  this  time  the  duke  may  have  met  his  fate- 
it  will  appear  to  be  some  accident,  a  fall  from  his 
horse  when  riding,  or  the  discharge  of  his  gun  while 
hunting,  but  his  doom  is  sealed.  Ugh !  it  makes  me 
shudder  to  remember  the  vindictive  manner  in 
which  they  took  the  oath  that  the  royal  spy  should 
die  within  the  next  moon." 

"As  for  me,  I  have  never  yet  turned  my  back 
upon  any  danger ;  but  a  man  would  be  a  fool  to  fight 
a  league  as  powerful  and  unscrupulous  as  this.  If  I 
cannot  make  these  parties  understand  that  I  am  in 
nocent,  I  presume  the  sooner  I  shake  the  dust  of 
Madrid  and  Spain  off  my  feet  the  better.  As  for  you, 
my  friend,  give  me  the  chance  some  time  to  repay 
your  kindness." 

"Nonsense!    it  is  nothing.     I   merely "   begins 

Larry,  when  Doctor  Jack  stops  him. 

"Say  no  more.  You  are  risking  your  life  for  me. 
The  man  who  does  that  is  my  friend." 

"I  don't  think  I  take  any  risks — I  have  been  dused 
careful  how  I  came  here,  you  know,  and  I'm  sure 
you'll  never  whisper  a  word  of  it  to  a  living  soul." 

"For  my  life  I  would  not,  but  I  have  just  made  a 
discovery  that  concerns  -  you — that  will  doubtless 
cause  you  to  cast  your  fortunes  with  mine,  and  leave 
Spain  behind." 

Larry  shows  signs  of  excitement. 

"What  do  you  mean — what  have  you  discovered?" 
he  asks,  watching  the  calm  face  of  the  doctor. 


D&CTl'OR  JAGK.  145 

"In  the  first  place,  remain  cool.  Now,  carelessly 
look  in  the  mirror  behind  me.  You  can  see  the 
whole  of  the  cafe — laugh  as  though  I  had  uttered  a 
joke — at  the  same  time  cast  your  eyes  upon  the 
seeming  monk  near  by — do  you  recognize  him,  com 
rade — that  man  is  the  old  Turk — our  foe." 


146  DOCTOh  JACK 


CHAPTER  XII. 

PLANNING  THE    EXODUS. 

These  startling  words,  if  true,  tell  Larry  that  he 
has  been  followed  after  all,  and  that  the  intelligence 
will  soon  be  communicated  to  the  terrible  Council  of 
Ten,  concerning  his  warning  the  man  they  have 
doomed  as  a  spy. 

It  is  enough  in  itself  to  make  a  man's  flesh  creep, 
and  those  who  professed  to  more  bravery  than  the 
little  dude  of  Gotham  might  well  be  pardoned  for 
trembling. 

When  he  speaks  again,  however,  tnere  is  no  emo 
tion  discernible  in  his  voice — perhaps  the  calm  de 
meanor  of  the  man  of  steel  who  sits  opposite  to  him 
has  a  quieting  effect. 

"Are  you  sure  of  what  you  say,  doctor?"  he  asks, 
after  having  glanced  at  the  monk,  whose  gown  and 
mask  baffle  him — "how  have  you  guessed  such  a 
thing?  I  would  not  know  my  own  brother  in  such 
an  outlandish  rig." 

"Perhaps  I  would  be  as  badly  off,  only  for  one 
thing,  and  that  has  given  me  my  point.  I  noticed 
the  pasha  in  the  museo — watched  him  like  a  lynx 
out  of  the  corner  of  my  eyes,  for  I  wanted  to  know 
him  again  wherever  I  might  meet  him.  As  a  result  I 
got  onto  a  certain  trick  he  has  of  tossing  his  head  in 
a  peculiar  way,  as  if " 

"There  he  goes  now,"  interrupts  Larry,  with  a 
gesture  of  delight — then  drops  his  eyes  as  the  masked 
monk  turns  that  way. 

"Yes,  that  is  it.     I  know  positievly  that  this  man 


DL'CTOIt  JA2K  147 

is  the  pasha,  and  if  so  I'm  afraid  your  disiii.tere.3U3d 
kindness  has  gotten  you  into  a  scrape." 

'''Don't  worry  about  me.  I  aon't  flunk  when 
danger  calls.  There  are  ways  of  outwitting  these 
bloody  Spaniards —trust  a  Yankee's  long  head  for 
that,  my  boy.  Have  you  any  suggestion?" 

"Let  me  think  a  minute." 

So  Doctor  Jack  reviews  the  situation,  and  sees 
things  in  something  of  a  new  light.  It  makes  him 
wince  to  realize  how  near  he  has  come  to  falling  in 
the  pit  dug  for  him — not  only  once  at  the  house  of 
Don  Carlos,  but  in  the  arena — for  with  his  new  vision 
he  believes  Mercedes  was  playing  a  deep  game  when 
with  voice  and  eyes  she  urged  him  on  to  meeting  the 
bull — no  doubt  believing  and  expecting  he  would 
never  leave  the  bull-ring  alive. 

Somehow  this  thought  makes  him  feel  cheap — he 
does  not  care  for  Mercedes,  but  he  is  a  man,  and 
does  not  like  to  have  been  made  a  plaything  of  a 
beauty's  smile. 

So  he  rapidly  reviews  the  situation,  and  endeavors 
to  see  something  in  the  future  that  will  warrant  his 
forming  a  plan,  while  Larry  sips  the  contents  of  his 
glass,  and  steals  furtive  glances  at  the  disguised 
pasha,  who  seems  to  be  paying  no  attention  to  them 

"Come,  we  will  go  out  of  here,"  and  Jack  rises, 
settles  the  account,  then  passes  beyond  the  portal. 

"Look  back,  Larry — is  he  following?"  he  says. 

"Yes,  he  has  arisen,  and  walks  this  way,  the  old 
heathen.  I'd  like  to ' 

"No,  no,  we  must  do  nothing  rash.  At  all  events, 
it  is  essential  to  the  success  of  my  plans  that  Ab- 
dallah  Pasha  lives  to  return  to  Turkey,  for  I  intend 
to  meet  him — to  outwit  him  in  a  tremendous  game 


being  played,  the  stakes  of  which  are  contained  in  a 
human  life." 

They  pass  along  to  the  fonda  near  by,  with  the 
same  merry  crowd  jostling  them,  the  same  frolic 
some  senoritas  pouring  rice  upon  them  from  over 
hanging  balconie,3,  amid  shrieks  of  mischievous 
laughter,  and  all  gayety  and  laxity  that  is  always  a 
part  of  the  grand  carnival. 

At  another  time  Doctor  Jack  mig-ht  have  joined  in 
the  mirth  of  the  hour  with  all  his  heart,  for  he  is  a 
convivial  fellow,  and  believes  in  getting  a  certain 
amount  of  pleasure  out  of  this  grim  old  world  of 
ours,  with  its  fleeting  shows ;  but  just  now  so  many 
things  are  on  his  mind  that  the  music  and  laughter 
bother  him  a  little. 

He  feels  that  a  net  is  being  spread  about  him,  and 
not  only  does  the  danger  menace  himself,  but  that 
fair  girl,  Avis,  as  well.  She  is  not  suspected  of  any 
connection  with  the  government  by  these  political 
conspirators,  but  the  look  Abdallah  Pasha  gave  her 
was  enough  to  cause  alarm  in  the  mind  of  the  Ameri 
can  doctor. 

Used  to  reading  the  faces  of  men — his  power  falls 
short  when  tried  upon  the  othfir  sex,  for  they  baffle 
his  penetration — he  has  discovered  that  the  evil  eye 
of  the  Turk  has  picked  out  Avis  as  the  one  creature 
above  all  others  he  would  delight  to  see  in  his 
harem.  Beautiful  slaves  he  may  buy  in  the  mart  in 
Constantinople,  but  never  one  of  her  animation. 

Besides,  the  vindictive  pasha  has  doubtless  known 
from  the  start  that  she  is  the  sister  of  the  man  he 
hates — the  prisoner  of  the  palace — and  it  may  be  he 
hopes  to  thrust  another  thorn  into  the  heart  of  Aleck 
Morton  when  he  can  be  able  to  show  him  his  beloved 
sister  an  inmate  of  the  grand  seraglio. 


DOCTOR  JACK  U9 

Thus  it  will  be  seen  Doctor  Jack  has  no  child's 
play*  before  him.  First  he  must  outwit  the  league 
that  seems  bound  to  wind  up  his  mortal  affairs  for 
him,  and  when  this  has  been  accomplished,  by  a 
bold  and  ingenious  plan  he  means  to  hoodwink  the 
pasha  and  save  Aleck  Mortons,  if  that  worthy  is  in 
the  land  of  the  living. 

In  this  undertaking  he  will  need  help,  and  hence 
is  not  at  all  sorry  that  circumstances  have  arisen 
which  will  necessitate  Larry's  accompanying  them 
out  of  Spain. 

The  dude  is  just  the  man  to  assist — his  mind  is 
crafty,  and  it  is  more  upon  diplomacy  they  must  de 
pend  for  success  than  strength.  So  Jack,  revolving 
these  things  in  his  mind,  determines  upon  his  course. 

They  have  reached  the  roomy  fonda,  and  as  there 
is  a  corner  where  the  papers  are  kept,  Jack  draws 
his  companion  thither — they  secure  a  copy,  and  go 
to  Jack's  apartment,  where  the  latter  immediately 
consults  the  railway  time-table. 

Used  to  American  methods,  one  would  be  dis 
tracted  endeavoring  to  understand  the  jumble  in 
which  the  arrivals  and  departures  are  announced— 
there  is  a  lack  of  system  in  everything  throughout 
Spain,  just  the  opposite  of  what  the  traveler  finds 
through  France  and  Germany,  where  things  are 
done  according  to  a  set  rule. 

Jack  is  good  at  deciphering  enigmas,  however, 
and  he  soon  makes  out  that  a  train  leaves  the  city 
for  Bordeaux  and  beyond  by  way  of  Zaracoza  at 
eight-thirty  in  the  morning,  which  may  be  con 
strued  as  nine  o'clock  in  Spain,  for  few  things  are 
done  on  time. 

This  is  the  most  direct  way  to  get  beyond  the 
Pyrenees  and  into  France.  True,  the  other  route 


160  IWGTOR  JAGS. 

via  Barcelona  takes  one  along  the  sea  where  the  ear 
can  hear  the  sad  moan  of  the  waves,  the  eyes  rest 
upon  vineyards,  orange  groves,  oli^e  orchards  and 
great  fields  of  wild  thyme,  while  the  perfume-laden 
air  is  exceedingly  grateful  to  the  senses;  but  it  is 
twice  as  long  as  the  one  chosen,  which  hurries  the 
traveler  over  a  high,  hot  plateau,  in  places  a  desert. 

Time  is  a  factor  in  the  calculations  of  the  doctor 
just  now,  and  he  means  to  give  up  all  other  con 
siderations  in  order  to  get  out  of  Spain  with  the  least 
possible  delay. 

Taking  out  a  small  but  accurate  map,  attached  to 
a  guide-book,  he  traces  the  course  they  will  pursue 
to  Paris,  and  then  east,  until  at  length  his  finger  re 
mains  stationary  over  a  dot  that  marks  the  Oriental 
city  on  the  beautiful  Bosphorus — Constantinople. 

"There  we  rest — in  that  city  duty  calls.  Will  you 
go  with  us,  Larry,  and  lend  assistance  in  the  effort 
to  save  your  Cousin  Aleck,  held  a  prisoner  in  the 
pasha's  palace?"  he  asks. 

"Tell  me  the  story — I  will  give  you  my  answer 
when  you  are  done,"  returns  the  other. 

So  Jack  begins,  and  narrates  all.  It  does  not  take 
him  long,  but  he  describes  the  thrilling  scene  in  the 
wonderful  gardens  adjoining  the  harem  of  the 
wealthy  pasha  with  such  eloquence  that  Larry  is 
quite  carried  off  his  feet,  and  before  the  other  can 
put  the  question  to  him  again  he  has  seized  Doctor 
Jack's  hand  earnestly. 

"I  am  with  you  heart  and  soul,  my  friend.  From 
this  hour  count  me  as  one  of  you.  We  will  thus 
form  a  little  triumvirate  of  our  own  to  oppose  the 
enemy,  and  you  will  find  this  brain  of  mine  as  fer 
tile  in  resources  as  that  of  the  old  time  plotter,  the 
Cardinal  Richelieu." 


JAU&.  i5J 

Jack  does  not  smile — he  would  not  be  surprised  at 
any  tiling  Larry  might  do  now,  the  little  man  has 
s;:-.>wn  such  a  decided  genius  for  diplomacy.  He 
trusts  him  fully,  and  such  action  is  apt  to  bring  out 
everything  there  is  in  the  dude. 

Jack  makes  no  error  by  underestimating:  the 
power  of  the  enemy.  He  knows  they  will  be  watch- 
fui.  and  continually  on  the  alert  to  circumvent  any 
plans  that  may  be  formed. 

All  is  to  be  kept  a  secret — no  one  must  know  that 
they  intend  leaving  Madrid  in  the  midst  of  the 
glorious  carnival,  for  people  would  at  once  believe 
them  insane,  since  the  Spanish  mind  cannot  con 
ceive  of  a  more  glorious  spectacle,  longed  for 
through  many,  many  months,  and  enjoyed  with  all 
the  fervor  of  their  hot-blooded  race. 

They  talk  in  low  tones,  for  it  is  not  absolutely 
certain  that  hostile  ears  may  not  be  bent  to  hear 
their  plans — these  Spanish  fondas  in  the  cities,  as 
well  as  the  taverns,  or  posadas,  in  the  villages,  beine: 
rambling  dwellings,  with  the  queerest  rooms  imagi 
nable,  and  ever  so  many  nooks  and  hiding-places, 
quite  bewildering  to  one  used  to  straight  halls  as 
seen  in  English  and  American  hotels. 

It  is  easy  to  get  lost  in  such  a  labyrinth,  and  dues 
not  require  a  great  stretch  of  the  imagination  to 
people  various  dark  corners  with  ready  eaves 
droppers,  especially  when  the  party  concerned  has 
cause  to  believe  himself  watched. 

Jack  is  the  last  person  in  the  world  to  allow  any 
nervousness  to  lay  hold  on  him,  but  he  understands 
the  situation  and  what  he  must  expect — his  ene 
mies  are  unscrupulous  and  powerful,  and  this  alone 
is  enough  to  cause  him  uneasiness. 

Step  by  step  he  goes  over  the  plan  with  the  other. 


155,  DOCTOR 

to  make  sure  there  is  no  mistake,  for  such  a  thing 
would  perhaps  be  fatal  to  the  success  of  the  role  they 
have  arranged. 

Larry  is  to  go  to  the  Fonda  Peninsular,  and  man 
age  to  let  every  one  know  that  he  is  to  take  hia 
aunt  and  cousin  out  early  in  the  morning  in  a 
vehicle  to  see  how  Madrid  looks  after  the  first  night '« 
debauch — thus  alarming  no  one  when  the  carriage  ia 
ordered  later  on. 

The  trunks  can  be  gotten  down  at  the  last  mo 
ment,  all  preparations  having  been  made  by  the  la 
dies,  to  whom  he  will  deliver  a  communication  from 
Jack  as  soon  as  he  reaches  the  hotel  on  the  puerta. 

Thus  it  is  neatly  arranged,  and  if  they  have  even 
ordinary  luck,  by  nine  o'clock  on  the  morrow  the 
whole  party  will  be  aboard  the  fast  Paris  express, 
speeding  over  the  rails  in  the  direction  of  the  gay 
French  capital. 

It  is  not  their  intention  to  remain  here  any  length 
of  time — duty  demands  that  they  at  once  seek  the 
battle-field  again,  to  stand  up  with  the  plotting 
pasha,  and  see  if  diplomacy  cannot  beat  him  in  the 
game  now  on. 

They  are  small  in  number,  but  as  force  cuts  a 
poor  figure  in  the  deal,  they  mean  to  outgeneral  the 
enemy.  What  the  future  holds  for  them  only 
Heaven  knows,  but  their  hopes  are  strong,  and  when 
Jack  bids  Larry  good-night,  meaning  to  get  a  few 
hours  rest,  he  squeezes  his  hand  warmly  as  he  says: 

"In  six  hours  we  are  away.  Don't  forget  to  be  on 
ttme,  my  friend,"  and  Larry  answers: 

"  Ton  'onah !  now,  Doctor  Jack,  we  shall  soon  be 
'm  the  road.  Then  hurrah  for  Paris!" 


ON    THE    ROAD    TO    PARIS. 


CHAPTER  XI11. 

iSIT   IS   LOVE  THAT   BRINGS   ME   HERE    TO    SAVE    SOU." 

When  Doctor  Jack  finds  himself  alone  once  more 
fee  closes  the  door  of  his  room,  and  sits  down  to 
ttiink.  A  cigar  helps  him  in  this  respect,  and  he 
grasps  the  reins  of  the  situation  in  his  hand. 

Minutes  slip  away  thus,  and  he  has  gone  over  the 
whole  situation.  The  thought  of  what  lies  beyond 
in  the  near  future  seems  to  stir  the  most  sluggish 
clood  in  his  veins  into  action,  for  he  can  no  longer 
remain  seated,  but  springing  to  his  feet  begin*1-  to 
pack  the  small  portmanteau  with  the  few  things  he 
carries  with  him — your  old  traveler  knows  too  much 
to  encumber  himself  with  a  variety  of  luxuries 
Mien  on  the  jump,  however  much  he  might  enjoy 
fcnese  same  things  if  settled  down. 

When  this  job  has  been  completed  Jack  consults 
b'.s  watch,  and  finds  that  the  hour  lacks  but  a  few 
minutes  of  four.  Through  the  open  windows  there 
still  comes  l^a  sound  of  merry  laughter  from  the 
street — the  noise  jars  on  Jack's  mind,  for  he  is  in 
rather  a  melancholy  state,  as  though  certain  coming' 
events  were  casting  a  shadow  before. 

He  tries  to  sleep,  throwing  himself  upon  the  bed, 
but  it  is  of  no  avail,  and  presently  he  is  once  mort> 
on  his  feet  pacing  the  room. 

This  in  a  measure  calms  him,  and  when  his  atten 
tion  is  directed  toward  the  street  by  an  unusually 
boisterous  crowd  passing,  Doctor  Jack  walks  to  the 
window  a.nd  leans  out. 

How  cool  and  pleasant  the  night  air,  and  what  a 
delicious  odor  of  flowers  comes  to  him.  He  can 


156  tiGUTOR  JACK. 


hardly  endure  the  closeness  of  the  room,  in  which 
the  flickering  gas  has  burned  so  long. 

Looking  down  he  sees  that  while  many  of  the  lights 
may  have  burned  out,  these  are  principally  the  Chi 
nese  colored  lanterns  hung  on  the  trees  by  the  resi 
dents.  The  avenue  is  still  brilliantly  illuminated 
by  myriads  of  tiny  flames,  and  the  pavement  by  no 
means  deserted,  though  by  far  the  greatest  crowds 
have  surged  in  the  direction  of  the  great  central 
plaza,  where  the  populace  of  Madrid  delight  to  jostle 
one  another  upon  gala  occasions  like  this. 

Attracted  by  the  light  and  sounds  coming  from 
this  quarter,  the  American  turns  his  gaze  thither  — 
he  can  hear  the  roar  of  voices,  the  rising  and  swell 
ing  music  of  bands,  and  see  the  glow  of  fireworks  as 
the  many-colored  balls  cut  the  black  heavens,  or 
bursting  rockets  send  a  shower  of  golden  rain  down 
from  on  high. 

Madrid  is  having  a  grand  old  time,  and  woe  unto 
the  luckless  travelers  quartered  in  the  hotels  on  or 
near  the  Puerta  del  Sol,  the  Fondas  Peninsular,  de 
Paris,  de  los  Principes,  de  Rusia,  or  de  los  Embaja- 
dores  —  sleep  will  be  an  utter  impossibility  for  them 
on  these  three  full  nights  of  the  carnival. 

Doctor  Jack  has  stood  thus,  his  elbows  resting  on 
the  window-sill,  which  is  high  up  from  the  floor  of 
the  room,  perhaps  ten  minutes,  when  he  becomes 
aware  of  a  singular  thing  —  some  one  is  knocking  at 
his  door.  In  itself  this  is  not  so  strange,  but  the 
hour  makes  it  so. 

He  turns  around,  and  as  he  does  this  the  rap  is  re 
peated  —  not  a  bold  sound,  such  as  a  man  would 
make,  but  a  timid  one.  Jack  for  the  moment  is 
amazed  —  he  wonders  if  some  new  trick  of  the  carni 
val  is  about  to  be  sprang  on  him. 


DOCTOR  JACK.  157 

Then  he  recovers  his  self  possession,  and  walks  to 
ihe  door.  The  knocks  have  ceased,  bwt  he  imme 
diately  opens  the  door,  to  find,  as  he  already  ex 
pected,  that  his  caller  is  a  woman. 

She  is  masked,  and  wears  a  black  domino  that  in 
a  measure  conceals  her  form.  Jack  has  seen  dozens 
disguised  in  this  manner  upon  the  street.  It  flashes 
over  him  that  perhaps  this  senora  is  stopping  at  the 
hotel,  and  has  made  a  mistake  of  the  room,  but  she 
evinces  no  surprise  or  consternation  at  sight  of  him, 
so  this  can  hardly  be.  Then  the  idea  flashes  into 
his  mind  that  it  is  a  prank-loving  senora,  who  has 
possibly  some  giggling  companions  hidden  in  the 
hallway  watching  to  see  her  little  passage  at  arms 
with  the  brave  American  who  slew  the  black  toro, 
and  whom  the  gentler  half  of  Madrid's  population 
has  gone  almost  crazy  over  ever  since. 

These  things  flit  through  Jack's  mind  with  the 
rapidity  of  lightning,  and  although  but  a  few  seconds 
have  passed  since  he  opened  the  door,  he  has  al 
ready  decided  that  he  must  beware  of  the  black  eyes 
that  gleam  from  behind  the  other's  mask. 

His  early  morning  caller  has  during  this  time 
stood  there  observing  him — she  evidently  waits  for 
him  to  speak,  so  he  musters  his  Spanish,  and  says, 
laughingly: 

"The  senora  would  play  some  trick  upon  the 
American  for  the  amusement  of  her  friends.  If  she 
will  consent  to  remove  her  mask,  and  call  those  who 
look  on,  I  will  have  the  landlord  set  an  early  break 
fast  or  a  late  supper  down  below,  where  we  can  be 
come  better  acquainted,  and  talk  of  the  great  carni 
val" — for  Doctor  Jack  knows  sleep  is  out  of  the  ques 
tion  for  him,  and  is  ready  to  welcoine  this  little  epi 
sode  of  the  grand  masquerade  in  order  to  pass  away 


15b  0VCTOX  JACJL 

some  of  the  leaden  hours  that  must  elapse  before  i*ie 
time  conies  wh^n  he  can  start  for  the  fast  Paris  ex 
press. 

All  manner  of  liberties  are  taken  during  the  con 
tinuance  of  the  carnival,  most  of  them  innocent  in 
themselves.  Spanish  women  are  generally  shut  up 
the  better  part  of  the  year,  and  allowed  little  free 
dom,  so  that  when  the  time  comes  for  them  to  don  a 
mask,  secure  from  recognition,  they  do  many  things 
that  at  another  time  would  be  far  from  their 
thoughts.  This  is  only  human  nature,  and  the  bla.ck- 
«jyed  dames  of  Spain  are  nothing  if  not  human. 

To  Jack's  surprise,  however,  his  unknown  visitor 
does  not  eagerly  grasp  at  his  munificent  offer  of  a 
feast  for  herself  and  friends.  On  the  contrary,  she 
seems  to  draw  herself  up  haughtily,  as  though 
offended  in  a  degree  at  his  familiarity,  and  Jack 
guesses  he  has  made  a  mistake. 

"Senor  Evans  does  not  know  who  be  addresses, 
evidently,"  and  thus  speaking,  she  removes  the  mask 
suddenly. 

To  say  Jack  is  startled  would  hardly  cover  the 
ground — in  all  his  life  he  does  not  remember  feeling 
such  a  shock  as  when  his  eyes  fall  upon  that  face.  It 
is  Mercedes — her  beauty  seems  to  light  up  the  dingy 
room  as  she  stands  there  in  the  doorway.  Doctor 
Jack  fairly  gasps,  and  for  the  moment  loses  his 
voice;  but  he  is  too  old  a  campaigner  to  remain  in 
this  state  long,  and  presently  recovers. 

"Mercedes — Senorita — how  can  you  pardon  my 
seeming  rudeness?  I  never  dreamed  of  this — ah, 
great  pleasure — but  I  believed  I  was  about  to  be  made 
the  victim  of  a  joke  by  some  fun-loving  senoras  liv. 
ir-g  at  the  fonda.  You  will — you  must  pardon  me." 

All  this  he  says  in  such  an  earnest  manner,  look- 


ing  so  sorry  for  the  blunder,  that  it  does  not  lie  in  a 
woman's  heart  to  bear  malice.  Mercedes  smiles- 
he  is  forgiven.  She  makes  a  movement  as  thong li 
she  would  enter — Jack  immediately  picks  up  a 
heavy  chair  with  one  hand,  as  though  it  were  a 
chip,  and  begs  her  to  be  seated,  while  at  the  same 
thue  he  is  madly  speculating  as  to  the  cause  of  her 
presence  here  at  this  strange  hour. 

True,  the  carnival  is  on,  and  it  gives  a  sort  of  li 
cense  to  its  votaries,  but  Mercedes  is  hardly  the  one 
to  take  advantage  of  this.  He  believes  from  the 
start  that  he  must  seek  further  if  he  would  learn  the 
truth. 

Looking  backward  he  can  see  all  that  has  hap 
pened  to  him  in  connection  with  this  woman  who 
wears  the  crown  of  beauty.  Like  the  shifting  scenes* 
of  a  moving  panorama,  the  events  pass  before  his 
mind 'a  eye.  First,  there  are  the  meetings  in  the 
flower  market  of  Barcelona,  when  his  eye  is  capti 
vated  by  the  loveliness  of  the  supposed  Catalan  peas 
ant  girl  who  frequents  the  Rambla  and  sells  hir- 
bouquets  and  boutonaires.  Then  he  sees  that  fac« 
back  of  the  vail  worn  by  the  nun  from  the  cloiste- 
of  the  Benedictine  church  of  San  Pedro — she  lean* 
over  him.  her  perfumed  breath  touching  his  cheek 
her  liquid  eyes  drinking  his  joul. 

Last  of  all  comes  the  bull-fight — his  leap  into  the 
arena — the  look  of  mingled  pdde  and  consternation 
he  sees  upon  her  face,  and  then  the  scene  at  her 
home,  were  she  sings  for  him  all  the  tender  Spanish 
love  songs  she  knows. 

Is  it  any  wonder  Doctor  Jack's  heart  beats  faster 
than  its  wont,  as  he  realizes  that  this  magnificent' 
croL\ture  has  come  to  him  bent  upon  some  secret  er 
rand? 


16U  DOGTOK  JAr'!L 

For  a  moment  he  even  forgets  that  this  creature- 
one  of  the  loveliest  works  of  Heaven — has  been  en 
gaged  in  a  plot  against  his  life,  because  she  is  de 
voted,  body  and  soul,  to  the  cause  of  the  Carlists — 
but  it  rushes  like  a  wave  over  him  again,  and  he  be 
comes  cautious. 

What  game  can  she  be  playing  now?  He  almost 
fears  Mercedes,  her  beauty  is  so  great.  Somehow 
she  makes  him  think  of  a  tigress,  so  magnificent  in 
her  bearing,  and  yet  so  subtle.  Mentally  he  com 
pares  her  with  Avis,  and  the  latter  does  not  suffer 
thereby,  for  frankness  is  stamped  upon  her  brave 
face,  if  the  beauty  of  Mercedes  is  the  greater. 

"Kindly  close  the  door,  Doctor  Jack.  It  would  not 
do  for  any  one  to  see  me  here.  I  risk  much  in 
making  this  visit/"'  she  says,  in  her  low,  velvet-like 
voice,  that  thrills  the  American,  though  he  cannot 
tell  why. 

He  obeys  her  behest,  and  even  turns  the  key  in 
the  lock  as  an  additional  safeguard  against  intru 
sion.  Whatever  her  mission  may  be  it  is  his  duty 
to  protect  her. 

Standing  near  her,  with  his  hands  resting  on  the 
back  of  a  chair,  he  looks  straight  into  her  coloring 
face,  where  the  blushes  creep  under  the  satin-like, 
olive-complexion,  as  though  he  would  read  her  secret 
there.  She  gives  a  short  little  laugh — it  is  certainly 
a  strange  thing  for  a  young  woman  of  the  highest 
circle  of  Madrid  to  seek  a  private  audience  with  a 
gentleman  at  such  an  hour,  but  there  must  be  some 
strong  reason  for  her  action. 

"Senor  Jack,  you  think  me  unmaidenly  for  coming 
to  you  here — now.  I  confess  it  is  a  strange  thing  to 
do,  but  I  have  a  powerful  reason.  Your  life  is  in 
danger." 


DOCTOR  JAGK.  IGi 

She  says  this  in  a  thrilling  tone,  just  as  if  she  ex 
pects  Jack  to  start  back  in  amazement ;  but  he  does 
nothing1  of  the  sort.  This  is  an  old  story  to  him  now 
• — even  when  he  heard  it  first  from  Larry  he  had 
shown  little  signs  of  wonder,  and  hence  is  not  apt  to 
go  into  a  state  of  agitation  at  this  late  hour. 

''Indeed!"  is  all  he  says,  and  so  quietly  that  she 
bites  her  lips  in  chagrin. 

"You  do  not  believe  it?"  she  cries. 

"Pardon  me,  but  I  know  it  to  be  a  fact." 

"Ah!  who  has  told  you?"  quickly. 

"I  have  a  faculty  for  finding  out  these  things, 
senorita.  I  know  that  I  am  a  marked  man  by  the 
Carlists,  simply  because  I  happened  to  be  a  friend  of 
the  Duke  de  Arroyo,  who  has  turned  out  to  be  a 
royal  spy." 

Jack  says  all  this  without  excitement — she  looks 
upon  him  in  wonder. 

"You  know  that  your  life  has  been  forfeited — that 
you  may  be  among  the  missing  at  any  day,  and  yet 
you  do  not  feel  afraid?" 

"Senorita,  you  have  seen  me  master  that  crazy 
black  toro  in  the  ring." 

"Ah!  it  was  a  superb  sight,  but  I  trembled  for 
you,  Senor  Jack,  and  regretted  my  rash  action  in 
goading  you  on." 

" Why  should  you?" 

She  does  not  answer  in  words,  but  the  tell-tale 
color  flies  into  her  cheeks.  If  Mercedes  is  playing  a 
part  she  is  an  admirable  actress,  the  finest  Jack 
has  ever  seen  off  the  stage. 

"You  must  leave  Spain,  Senor  Jack." 

"I  intend  to,"  he  replies. 

"Immediately.    A  few  hours  may  be  fatal  t*  you. 


162  BQSTOR  JACK. 

Even  now  the  word  has  gone  out  that  means  y<  r 
death" — her  manner  has  become  excited,  the  g;  t 
black  eyes  glow  with  volcanic  fire,  and  fascinate 
Jack,  who  realizes  now  what  a  gr^at  possibility  for 
good  or  evil  lies  in  his  wonderful  girl. 

"All  this  I  already  know,  senorita,  but  neve, 
less  I  thank  you  just  the  same.  I  cannot  understand 
your  motive  in  taking  this  risk  to  warn  me,  who  c,-.n 
only  be  considered  a  friend  at  the  most."  Jack 
would  be  moved  to  more  warmth  in  his  speech  could 
he  get  rid  of  the  notion  that  the  girl  is  acting  a  part 
—believing  this,  he  does  not  care  to  be  demons  in  :- 
tive. 

Her  quick  woman's  intuition  guesses  the  truth  in 
stantly — she  sees  he  distrusts  her,  and  a  resolve 
flashes  into  her  mind.  He  must  know  all — the  fear 
ful  risks  she  has  taken  to  warn  him,  and,  yos, 
even  the  reason  why  this  has  been  done,  unmaidenJv 
as  it  may  be  for  a  woman  to  disclose  the  secrets  of 
her  inner  heart  to  the  man  she  loves — these  impul 
sive  Spanish  women  are  not  so  coy  and  backward  as 
their  American  cousins — the  tropical  clime  en 
genders  more  fire  in  the  blood,  and  their  passions,  if 
less  enduring  on  the  whole,  are  like  the  hot  blast  of 
the  sirocco  while  they  last. 

"Sen or  Jack,  you  understand,  that  I  have  not 
come  here  at  the  order  of  any  league — this  time  my 
actions  are  controlled  by  Mercedes  Gonzales  alone. 
I  assume  a  grave  risk  in  seeking  to  warn  you." 

"And  again  I  thank  you,  senorita.  The  risk  is 
lessened  by  the  fact  that  many  senoras  are  upon  the 
streets  even  now,  enjoying  the  carnival.  I  am  gla-1 
of  that,  and  trust  no  one  among  your  friends  will 
evor  hear  that  you  came  to  warn  your  American  ac 
quaintance  at  such  an  hour.  It  does  your  woman  ^ 


DOCTOR  JACK.  163 

heart  credit,  senorita.  May  you  find,  such  a  friend 
in  time  of  need." 

Does  he  speak  in  sarcasm?  Mercedes  fails  to  read 
his  face,  but  she  hastens  to  say : 

"You  do  not  understand  me,  Senor  .Tack.  When 
I  speak  of  assuming  a  risk  I  do  not  mean  that  to 
\\  iiich  you  refer.  That  is  nothing  to  me.  But  if  the 
league  to  which  I  belong — those  who  are  devoted  to 
the  cause  of  Don  Carlos  as  our  future  sovereign — 
should  know  that  I  came  here  to  warn  you,  my  life 
would  pay  the  penalty." 

She  shudders  while  she  speaks,  and  all  at  once 
the  truth  dawns  upon  stupid  Jack.  He  knows  all. 

This  is  not  the  superb  acting  of  a  woman  who 
plots,  but  the  plain  confession  of  a  woman  who 
loves.  He  does  not  know  what  to  do — was  never 
caught  in  such  a  position  before  in  all  his  life,  and 
hesitates. 

A  minute  of  silence  ensues.  She  hangs  her  head  in 
maidenly  shame,  yet  does  not  retreat  a  step  in  the 
course  she  has  marked  out.  He  observes  her  thought 
fully,  even  in  perplexity. 

Perhaps  at  another  time  he  might  have  ent^rod 
into  the  game  with  ardor,  for  that  lovely  face  is 
enough  to  stir  the  heart  of  even  a  stern  anchorite, 
but  now  things  have  changed — he  has  met  Avis  Mor 
ton,  and  the  memory  of  her  seems  to  hover  over  him 
like  a  good  angel. 

It  would  be  playing  with  fire  to  deceive  this  girl 
iino  the  belief  that  he  cared  for  her,  and  he  makes 
up  his  mind  not  to  do  it,  even  though  much  might 
be  gained  from  such  a  move. 

''Senorita,  believe  me,  you  have  the  gratitude  of 
my  heart  for  this  action.  I  understand  it  all." 

''  All?"  she  gasps,  trembling  like  a  frightened  bird. 


164  DOCTOR  JACJL 

"Yes.  Your  gentle  nature  could  not  bear  the 
thought  of  such  a  needless  sacrifice — in  your  heart 
you  realized  that  it  was  absurd  to  believe  me  capa 
ble  of  being  concerned  in  these  Spanish  intrigues. 
You  would  even  break  your  own  oath  to  the  Carlist 
league  in  order  to  warn  me.  It  was  noble  of  you. 
While  I  live  you  shall  have  my  most  sincere  grati- 
iude." 

At  the  word,  with  all  it  implies  in  English,  she 
starts  into  life  and  being ;  her  face  assumes  a  deter- 
inined  look,  and  from  those  superb  eyes  shafts  of 
softness  strike  Doctor  Jack. 

"Gratitude!"  how  she  tears  the  word  to  pieces  in 
the  bitter  way  she  pronounces  it.  "Ah,  Senor  Jack, 
that  is  what  the  dog  feels  toward  the  hand  that 
tosses  him  a  bone.  It  may  do  for  your  cold  English 
or  American  ways.  Here  in  Spain  we  know  not  such 
a  phrase.  With  us  it  is  either  love  or  hate." 

She  pauses  again  to  observe  his  tell-tale  face,  on 
which  a  flush  has  mounted,  for  Jack  is  dused  uneasy 
— it  is  the  first  time  in  his  life  he  has  ever  been 
made  love  to,  and,  considering-  the  extraordinary 
beauty  of  the  woman,  and  his  determination  not  to 
encourage  her,  his  situation  is  a  peculiar  one. 

He  wonders  how  Mercedes  will  take  it,  for  as  yet 
he  has. not  been  able  to  decide  what  her  true  nature 
is.  In  his  experience  he  has  generally  found  that  a 
beautiful  face  and  a  warm,  womanly  heart  seldom 
travel  hand  in  hand — usually  beauties  are  cold,  ex 
acting,  imperious  and  selfish. 

"I  do  not  know  what  you  may  think  of  me,  Doctor 
Jack,  for  telling  you  this,  but  I  can  in  no  other  way 
assure  you  of  the  truth  of  my  warning.  You  believe 
I  am  here  in  the  interest  of  the  league — that  through 
some  deceit  I  desire  to  accomplish  your  ruin.  By  the 


DOCTVR  JALA.  165 

Virgin,  I  swear  tc  you  it  is  love  that  brings  me  here 
to  save  you  from  an  awful  fate." 

She  goes  on  hurriedly  without  looking  up  at  him, 
and  it  is  well  she  does  not,  for  Jack's  face  expresses 
both  surprise  and  displeasure : 

"When  I  met  you  as  the  flower  girl  I  was  acting 
the  part  given  me  by  the  league  —I  hoped  in  making 
your  acquaintance  to  learn  the  truth,  whether  you 
were  one  of  our  enemies  or  the  man  you  claimed  to 
be.  From  the  first  day  I  saw  you  I  seemed  to  feel 
that  you  held  my  fate — I  could  not  help  it.  Then 
came  the  accident  in  the  street — those  were  not 
bandits  you  fought,  but  Carlists— your  guide,  Fran 
cisco  Marti,  is  a  leader  in  our  class,  and  it  was  he 
brought  about  the  melee,  hoping  to  have  you  killed. 
Your  bravery,  senor,  saved  your  life.  The  hand  of 
fate  directed  that  you  should  fall  in  the  doorway  of 
a  house  that  belonged  to  a  Carlist.  I  was  sent  in  the 
guise  of  a  nun  to  listen  to  any  ravings  you  might 
utter,  in  order  to  learn  the  truth. 

"They  would  have  been  glad  had  I  allowed  you  to 
die,  but  this  I  would  not  do,  and  when  I  looked  upon 
you  lying  there,  lifeless  as  it  seemed,  I  understood 
my  heart — senor,  pardon  me,  but  I  loved — I  believed 
you  belonged  to  me. 

"Then  came  the  scene  in  the  Plaza  del  Toros,  and 
when,  for  a  smile  from  me  you  faced  that  terrible 
bull,  I  was  thrilled  with  the  hope  that  you  perhaps 
returned  my  love.  Senor,  in  your  country  it  is  un- 
maidenly  for  a  girl  to  show  her  heart  to  the  man 
she  loves — she  must  suffer  in  silence  the  pangs  of 
passion,  and  never  learn  her  fate  until  he  chooses  to 
speak ;  but  in  Spain  we  are  of  a  different  mold,  and 
at  times  a  senorita  may  do  the  wooing  without  beingr 
unsexed.  You  think  me  bold — perhaps  despise  me,' 


14*  UOC10K  JAVK. 

here  her  voice  breaks,  aiui  she  poes  into  a  fit  of  weep- 
ing. 

It  is  a  woman's  last  card — when  all  else  fails  to 
bring  man's  obdurate  heart  to  terms  she  hae    re 
source  to  this,  and  many  a  victory,  almost  lost,  has 
been  wor>  under  the  influence  of  an  April  shower. 

Poor  old  Jack  becomes  dreadfully  uneasy— he 
fears  lest  he  is  about  to  be  taken  by  storm.  A 
woman  in  tears  always  does  touch  him,  and  when 
the  matter  has  been  brought  about  because  of  his 
own  hardened  heart,  it  grows  exceedingly  danger 
ous. 

He  wishes  the  floor  would  open  beneath  and  swal 
low  him  up,  but  unfortunately  such  an  event  is  not 
likely  to  occur — it  never  does  when  most  desired. 
Mercedes  sobs  bitterly,  and  Jack  bites  the  ends  ff 
his  mustache  savagely.  Good  heavens!  to  think 
of  this  affection  being  wasted  upon  a  fellow  of  his 
size,  when  there  are  dozens  of  amorous  swains  in 
Madrid  sighing  for  one  sweet  glance  from  the  eyes 
now  brimming  over  with  tears — it  is  a  shame! 

Something  must  be  done,  and  that  quickly.  Jack 
strides  over  to  the  window — if  he  could  only  find  a 
loop-hole  of  escape — but  it  is  hopeless,  and  he  must 
stay  to  face  the  music.  She  watches  him  from  be 
hind  the  lace  cobweb  with  which  she  seems  to  mop 
up  the  scanty  tears. 

He  turns  again — approaches — the  sobbing  grows 
more  intense — ah,  he  puts  out  his  hand  and  lays  it 
on  her  head — it  is  something  of  a  paternal  way.  bun 
thrills  the  Spanish  beauty.  Hitherto  she  has  laughed 
at  the  mad  pleadings  of  lovers— the  truth  has  come 
to  her  with  redoubled  force,  and  now  in  her  bittei- 
ness  of  spirit  her  scorned  admirers  are  amply  re- 
vended. 


JACK.  16? 

Jack  speaks — he  tries  to  do  so  calmly,  for  he  really 
and  deeply  regrets  that  this  scene  has  occurred,  and 
will  never  remember  it  with  any  feeling  of  pleasure. 

"Your  suffering  pains  me,  senorita.  I  am  un 
worthy  of  your  regard — a  mere  wandering  old 
stone,  gathering  no  moss.  Presently  I  shall  vanish 
from  your  sight,  and  when  you  see  me  no  more  you 
will  soon  forget  me." 

He  says  this  much  in  a  quiet  way,  and  means  to  add 
more,  but  just  then  something  occurs  such  as  he  has 
never  suspected — never  dreamed  of,  and  which 
brings  his  displeasure  to  a  climax. 

Mercedes  suddenly  springs  erect,  and  clasps  her 
arms  around  his  neck  madly — she  forgets  her 
maidenly  modesty  in  the  wild  rush  of  love  for  this 
man  who  is  to  her  a  hero — a  god. 

Jack  is  indignant  now — perhaps  he  is  a  trifle  more 
emphatic  than  necessary  when  he  unclasps  her 
hands,  for  her  face  grows  deadly  pale — she  feels 
that  she  has  staked  her  all  in  the  game,  and  lost. 

"Senorita  Mercedes,  this  gives  me  more  pain  than 
1  can  tell  you.  I  am  not  a  marrying  man,  but  a  wan 
derer,  desirous  only  of  seeing  as  much  of  the  world 
as  I  may." 

"Ah!  Senor  Jack,  if  you  loved  me  I  would  be  only 
too  glad  to  go  with  you  as  your  wife  to  the  ends  of 
the  world." 

"Say  no  mere,  I  beg.  senorita.  My  respect  you 
shall  ever  have.  I  cannot  forget  that  you  cared  for 
me.  Some  day,  when  the  happy  wife  of  a  man  who 
will  be  worthy  of  you,  I  may  take  your  hand,  and 
by  your  looks  you  will  thank  me  for  doing  what  now 
causes  you  pain.  Let  us  be  friends,  Mercedes,  the 
best  of  friends.  I  have  no  sister — why  will  you  not 
be  one  to  me?" 


168  DOCTOR  JACK. 

She  tears  her  hands  °way  from  his  grasp  as  if  in 
a  fury  at  his  words. 

"A  sister,  to  give  you  counsel — to  be  loved  one 
minute  and  forgotten  the  next.  No,  no;  if  you  will 
not,  cannot,  give  me  love  for  love,  then  we  must  part 
forever." 

Secretly  Jack  is  delighted  with  the  success  he  is 
meeting  in  this  game;  No  one  knows  better  than  he 
how  true,  when  applied  to  Spanish  women,  is  the 
old  saying  that  "hell  hath  no  fury  like  a  woman 
scorned,"  and  although  determined  to  do  his  whole 
duty,  he  has  fully  expected  to  see  Mercedes  de 
nounce  him,  and  call  down  all  manner  of  curses  on 
his  head — so  he  is  pleased  at  the  way  she  takes  it. 

If  he  can  but  lead  her  mind  into  another  channel 
all  may  be  well. 

"You  came  to  warn  me,  senorita,  but  I  am  all 
ready  to  go,"  pointing  to  the  portmanteau  strapped 
and  locked  near  by. 

"You  mean  to  leave  Madrid?"  eagerly. 

"In  the  morning.  So,  you  see,  I  shall  soon  be  be 
yond  all  danger  of  your  league,  and  I  trust  you  will 
not  worry  about  me.  We  go  to  Paris." 

Unlucky  slip  of  the  tongue — Jack  could  have  bit 
ten  the  member  by  way  of  penance. 

"You  do  not  go  alone?"  she  cries,  quickly. 

"No — you  see — there  is  a  party — "  he  makes  the 
matter  worse  with  his  hesitation. 

"Yes,  and  that  American  girl — Avis  Morton  you 
called  her — is  one  of  them.-  Ah !  Senor  Jack,  1  read 
your  secret — you  love  that  cold  girll" 


DOCTOR  JA^*~  169 


CHAPTER 


Of  what  avail  is  it  for  Jack  to  vehemently  deny 
the  soft  impeachment,  when  his  face  gives  the  lie  to 
his  words — the  latter  die  away  to  a  murmur  on  his 
lips,  and  he  stands  there,  a  convicted  criminal. 

As  for  the  Spanish  beauty  who  has  condescended 
to  beg  for  this  man's  love — emotions  chase  each 
other  over  her  face,  her  heart  seems  to  stand  still  at 
one  moment  and  then  beat  like  a  trip  hammer  the 
next,  while  her  small  hands  are  clenched  until  the 
nails  almost  enter  the  palms. 

It  is  the  supreme  moment  of  her  life — from  that 
pivotical  point  she  must  go  either  up  or  down  as  the 
inner  spirit  urges — some  women,  built  upon  a  grand 
model,  would  be  more  gentle,  more  gracious  after 
such  a  lesson,  others  would  prove  themselves  fit  de 
votees  of  Satan's  wiles. 

Jack  fears  the  worst,  but  nothing  he  may  do  can 
help  her  choose — that  must  come  from  within,  for  "as 
the  twig's  inclined  the  tree  is  bent."  He  knows  the 
storm — if  storm  it  proves  to  be — cannot  be  averted 
by  his  means,  and  so  he  bows  his  head  to  meet  it,  as 
might  the  sturdy  oak  in  the  forest. 

But  the  Spanish  beauty  does  not  burst  out  into  a 
hot  harangue  as  he  has  expected.  She  seems  to 
possess  some  control  over  her  feelings  after  all,  and 
Jack  finds  himself  unable  to  decide  as  to  what 
course  she  means  to  adopt. 

"You  eaniiot  deceive  me.  Doctor  Jack— I 


170  DOCTOR  JACK. 

that  srirl  is  in  your  mind,  your  heart,  and  that  Mer 
cedes  Gonzales  can  never  hope  to  gain  your  love.  It 
is  very  sudden — very  cruel,"  she  murmurs,  passing 
one  hand  over  her  forehead  in  a  dazed  sort  of  way 

"I  am  sorry — "  begins  Jack,  hardly  knowing1 
what  to  say,  but  she  interrupts  him  with  a  proud 
gesture  and  a  strained  laugh. 

''Make  no  apologies — I  am  something  of  a  Moham 
medan  in  my  ways,  and  as  Abdallah  Pasha  might 
say,  'Kismet — it  is  fate.'  But  what  would  you  ex 
pect  a  Spanish  woman  to  do  who  has  been  sup 
planted  in  the  heart  of  the  man  she  loves  by  another;' 
What  torture  could  be  too  great  ior  that  other  frail 
being1,  to  appease  her  outraged  feelings?"  she  almost 
hisses. 

''You  will  pervert  the  matter — i  have  only  seen 
Miss  Morton  once  or  twice  in  my  life — it  is  a  business 
arrangement  that  takes  us  away  in  company."  He 
has  been  alarmed  at  the  idea  of  harm  coming  to 
Avis  because  of  him,  and  would  avert  the  storm,  but 
she  laughs  again,  and  sneeringly  says  ; 

"Have  no  fears— I  am  not  that  vindictive.  Though 
you  have  scorned  my  love,  I  do  not  wish  you  ill. 
May  you  surmount  the  difficulties  that  surround  you 
and  be  happy." 

"What  would  you  do?"  he  asks,  as  Mercedes  rises 
proudly  from  her  chair,  defeated,  stung  with  con 
tending  emotions,  and  yet  a  woman. 

"The  worst  that  1  shall  do  is  to  leave  you  to  your 
fate.  Adiuif,  Senor  Jack.". 

He  takes  the  hand,  and  somehow  a  great  feeling 
of  tenderness  for  this  lovely  woman  almost  over 
whelms  him — he  knows,* what  her  southern  nature 
digues,  for  he  Iras  je^n  the  vendetta  of  Corsica 
carri'-d  out  by  frail  women,  so  that  he  now  beholds 


DOCTOR  JACft.  171 

Mercedes  as  one  who  has  gained  a  signal T  ictory 
over  the  passions  she  inherits. 

"Forgive  roe  the  pain  I  cause  you,  senorita,  and 
believe  me,  I  am  not  worthy  of  your  thoughts.  I 
trust  and  believe  the  future  has  happiness  in  store 
for  you,  and  that  you  will  never  repent  such  gener 
ous  action,  for  I  know  and  appreciate  the  national 
spirit  of  revenge  which  you  have  conquered. 
Heaven  guard  you,  senorita." 

He  bends  over  the  little  hand  and  kisses  it .  in  a 
true  cavalier  style.  Mercedes  looks  at  him  with  her 
heart  in  her  eyes,  as  though  this  little  action  has 
aroused  a  false  hope  in  her  breast ;  then,  seeing  no 
change  in  his  face,  the  wistful  look  turns  to  one  of 
keen  disappointment,  and  tearing  her  hand  from  his 
clasp,  she  opens  the  door  of  the  room,  and  is  gone. 

Jack  is  left  in  even  a  more  disturbed  frame  of 
mind  than  before.  He  does  not  know,  he  cannot  teil 
whai  Mercedes  will  do.  The  spirit  that  Amoves  her 
may  be  for  good  or  evil.  She  has  said  she  wiU 
simply  leave  him  to  his  fate,  but  who  can  guess 
what  a  woman  of  her  electric  nature,  once  madly  in 
love,  may  not  attempt? 

He  can  hardly  understand  what  it  is  has  caused 
him  to  put  aside  the  temptation — any  man  would  be 
flattered  by  the  love  of  such  a  royal  ly  beautiful 
.voman,  and  yet  Jack  has  been  able  to  resist  the 
subtle  charm.  Where  is  the  talisman  that  has  saved 
him? 

Almost  unconsciously  he  puts  his  hand  into  his 
Docket,  and  draws  something  out,  upon  which  he 
gazes  long  and  earnestly.  It  is  the  portrait  of  Avis 
Morton,  and  since  he  has  met  the  original,  Jack  finds 
a,  new  charm  in  the  picture. 

"Yes,  it  was  Avis  who  kept  me  trora  yielding  my- 


172  DOCTOR  JACK. 

self  a  captive  to  her  Circe-like  charms,  ransom  or  no 
ransom.  Such  a  wife  would  never  do  for  Jack  Evans. 
I  want  one  who  will  be  the  same  yesterday,  to-day, 
and  to-morrow,  always  tender,  loving,  and  true — 
well,  such  a  girl  as  Avis  Morton,  for  instance,  and 
please  Heaven,  if  I  can  convince  her  of  that  same 
thing  after  we  have  done  our  level  best  to  save 
Aleck,  she  shall  take  me  for  what  I  am  worth,  old 
nomad  that  I  am." 

Thus  he  mutters  to  himself,  and  presses  the  dumb 
counterfeit  resemblance  of  Avis  to  his  lips  after  the 
manner  of  all  foolish  lovers.  Had  Mercedes  wit 
nessed  the  action  she  would  have  been  possessed 
wit' i  a  mad  desire  to  tear  the  photograph  to  bits, 
and  perhaps  scratch  his  eyes  out  in  the  bargain,  for 
who  can  account  for  the  vagaries  of  a  woman  who 
has  stooped  to  conquer  and  been  repulsed? 

Sleep  is  not  to  be  thought  of — the  plot  thickens, 
and  morning  is  near  at  hand — the  time  of  action, 
when  they  shall  make  a  move,  and  open  up  the 
enemy's  masked  battery  if  they  have  one. 

As  Doctor  Jack  walks  to  the  window  and  glances 
out.  he  sees  a  faint  light  in  the  east  that  tells  him  the 
night  is  spent  and  dawn  at  hand.  He  watches  it 
grow  broader  slowly  but  surely,  while  the  magic 
lights  of  the  carousing  city  become  pale  under  the 
influence  of  the  coming  day.  The  cohorts  of  dark 
ness  seem  to..gather  for  a  last  final  effort  in  the  rear 
of  the  great  buildings  which  are  in  a  line  with 
Jack's  vision,  but  steadily  advance  the  battalions  of 
the  sun,  the  skirmishers  are  already  entering  the 
city,  and  before  their  invincible  onset  the  last  rem 
nant  of  the  king  of  darkness'  forces  are  sent  flying 
in  rout. 

So  the  day  opens — the  sun  begins  to  make  his  ap 


DOCTOR  JACK.  173 

pearance — masks  vanish  from  the  streets,  a*  id  gome- 
thing  of  business  begins,  although  little  unnecessary 
work  will  be  done  in  Madrid  during  the  festival  time. 

Jack  bethinks  himself  of  breakfast,  and  goes  down 
to  see  about  it.  He  knows  the  value  of  a  few  silver 
reals,  judiciously  placed,  and  thus  avoids  much  of 
the  friction  that  most  travelers  meet  with  in  a  Span 
ish  fonda.  Hence  his  meal,  simple  as  it  is,  consist 
ing  of  eggs,  toast,  and  tea,  is  soon  ready,  and  he 
does  it  justice. 

All  the  while  his  thoughts  are  flying  to  other 
scenes — he  wonders  whether  Larry  has  carried  out 
his  instructions  to  the  letter,  and  if  the  ladies  are 
ready  to  depart.  Much  depends  on  this  scheme 
being  carried  out  thoroughly,  and  there  are  so  many 
chances  of  something  happening  to  throw  a  wheel 
out  of  gear,  that  the  American  is  not  a  little  worried. 

His  anxiety  causes  him  to  finally  leave  the  table. 
Consulting  his  time-piece  he  finds  it  a  quarter  to 
eight.  Then  he  goes  out,  and  is  lucky  enough  to  en 
gage  a  vehicle.  From  the  man  he  learns  all  about 
distances,  then  has  his  portmanteau  brought  down. 

"To  the  Fonda  Peninsular  in  hot  haste,"  he  says 
to  the  driver,  and  the  latter,  having  already  been 
heavily  feed,  with  the  prospect  of  more  ahead,  does 
not  let  his  animals  sleep  on  the  way. 

Many  heads  are  thrust  out  of  windows — the  good 
people  of  Madrid  believe  every  fresh  rush  or  bustle 
on  the  street  nowadays  announces  the  coming  of 
some  new  spectacle,  and  they  are  determined  to 
keep  well  posted. 

So  the  hotel  is  soon  reached — there  is  beginning  to 
be  a  show  of  life  around  it,  as  the  American  leaps 
from  his  carriage  and  enters.  Another  moment  and 
he  has  cornered  the  proper  functionary  who  serves 


at  UOUTOK 

as  a  clerk,  and  of  whom  he  asks  whether  Miss  Mor 
ton  has  gone. 

The  other  leisurely  surveys  him,  and  begins  to  talk 
iD  a  rambling  way  about  finding  out;  but  Jack 
kno\vs  what  that  means — an  interminable  wait- 
precious  minutes  lost,  and  nothing  gained  when  the 
servant  finally  returns.  Time  is  too  valuable  to  be 
allowed  to  slip  so  easily.  He  knows  that  this  p^r.y 
is  like  the  rest,  and  the  jingle  of  a  few  reals  vill 
make  him  awaken.  Speedily  they  pass  from  his  own 
hand  into  the  itching  palm  of  the  clerk,  and  the 
effect  on  that  party  is  quite  surprising.  He  becomes 
aroused  at  once  like  a  man  who  must  now  think  for 
himself,  makes  a  grand,  heroic  effort,  and  then 
glows  with  triumph,  just  as  the  excited  pullet 
cackles  after  laying  her  first  egg,  Jack  thinks. 

"Si,  senor,  the  lady  has  gone.  I  assisted  her  into  a 
carriage  not  ten  minutes  ago,  and  the  trunk,  too. 
For  Dios,  it  was  heavy,"  he  rattles  on,  for  he  has 
learned  to  speak  very  fair  English  from  coming  ia 
contact  with  so  many  foreigners  at  the  hotel. 

This  is  good  newa  to  Jack — he  does  not  regret  the 
investment  of  the  few  reals. 

''The  lady  was  not  alone?"  he  asks. 

"Vaya/  no,  her  aunt  accompanied  her." 

"No  gentleman?" 

"Only  the  pasha,"  carelessly. 

"What!"  almost  howls  Doctor  Jack,  who  comes 
very  near  scaring  the  clerk  out  of  a  year's  growth. 

"The  Turkish  pasha — he  was  very  attentive  to 
Senorita  Morton,  and  always  asking  whether  she 
was  in  or  not." 

"Think  again,  man — did  the  pasha  accompany  the 
ladies,  or  was  it  Miss  Morton's  cousin,  the  strange 


JJUVTQR  JAGZ.  175 

daariy,  Larry  Kennedy?"  and  Jack  fairly  holds  his 
breath  in  suspense. 

"Caramba/  what  am  i  thinking  about?  My 
thoughts  are  wool-gathering.  It  was  the  little  man 
who  ordered  the  vehicle.  We  thought  they  were 
going  sight-seeing,  but  at  the  last  down  came  the 
trunk,  the  account  was  settled,  and  they  were  oft'. 
Quite  a  sudden  flitting.  I  trust,  senor,  they  did  not 
leave  you  in  the  lurch?'* 

Jack  pays  no  attention  to  the  question,  but  pounds 
away  at  his  subject : 

"Why  did  you  say  at  first  the  pasha  accompanied 
them— what  put  it  into  your  mind?" 

"I  will  tell  you — it  was  easy  enough  to  get  them 
mixed,  senor.  Just  after  they  had  gone,  the  Turkish 
general  comes  tome  and  asks  about  the  ladies" — he 
unconsciously  jingles  more  reals  in  his  pocket,  which 
Jack  readily  understands  have  passed  into  his  pos 
session  from  the  hand  of  the  Turk — "and  when  I  in 
form  him  of  their  departure  with  the  trunk  he  is 
greatly  excited,  settles  his  account,  engages  a  vehicle 
without  regard  to  its  cost,  and  is  off  carissimia,  like 
a  house  afire." 

"I  see.  Well,  I  cannot  let  all  my  friends  leave  me 
in  the  lurch  this  way,  so  I  will  follow  suit." 

Jack  puts  the  words  into  practice,  and  in  another 
minute  is  once  more  seated  in  his  vehicle  en  route 
for  the  railway  station.  There  is,  just  good  time  to 
reach  it  easily,  and  he  is  not  at  all  worried,  but  lean 
ing  back,  smokes  his  cigar  in  contentment. 

When  about  half  way  there  he  suddenly  sits  up 
straight,  and  looks  out  of  the  window.  There  has 
been  an  accident — a  crowd  has  gathered.  He  sees 
thnt  a  coach  has  broken  down — something  has  al 
lowed  the  wheel  to  come  off,  arid  the  vehicle  lies 


1*6  DOCTOR  JACK. 

there  on  one  side,  canting  downward,  the  bare  aria 
touching  the  ground. 

The  accident  is  not  an  uncommon  one  in  the 
streets  of  Madrid,  where  the  holes  in  the  roadway 
wrench  a  vehicle  badly,  but  Jack's  attention  is  di 
rected  toward  a  certain  little  man  who  rages  up  and 
down,  endeavoring  to  stir  the  driver  into  action  with 
alternate  threats  and  promises  of  heavy  pay,  but 
neither  of  which  appear  to  do  much  good,  as  the 
man  seems  prostrated  with  his  trouble. 

Jack  knows  this  figure — it  is  Larry.  Good 
heavens  i  the  broken  vehicle  is  the  one  they  were 
in.  Where  are  the  ladies — are  they  hurt — how  can 
the  station  be  reached  in  time? 

These  things  fly  through  Jack's  brain,  and  his  first 
move  is  to  stop  his  own  vehicle.  Then  he  dismounts, 
and  at  sight  of  him  Larry  utters  a  war-whoop,  and 
•would  throw  his  arms  around  the  neck  of  Doctor 
Jack  did  not  that  worthy  prevent  it. 

"Where  are  the  ladies?"  he  demands. 

"Here,  doctor,"  and  they  make  a  brave  showing, 
seated  upon  the  trunk  near  by. 

"Are  you  hurt?"  he  asks,  anxiously,  approaching 
them,  but  his  words  are  meant  for  Avis  only. 

"Not  at  all,  but  a  trifle  alarmed — it  came  so  sud 
denly,  you  see,"  replies  the  girl. 

"Well,  we  must  not  miss  that  train.  In  a  pinch, 
my  vehicle  will  hold  us  all.  Let  us  get  the  trunk  up 
quickly,  Larry.  Not  a  minute  to  waste." 

Jack's  driver  professes  to  be  horror-stricken  at  the 
load  he  is  to  take,  but  the  promise  of  several  golden 
doubloons  cause  him  to  show  more  alacrity — the  or- 
dmary  Spanish  Jehu  will  risk  even  his  neck  for 
such  royal  pay,  and  think  little  of  his  vehicle. 

So  the  trunk  is  taken  up,  the  ladies  placed  inside. 


JJOVTOR  JAVA.  iTt 

and  Larry  squeezes  among  them.  Jack  is  about  to 
clamber  on  top  among  the  trunks,  but  they  will  not 
hear  of  it — the  ladies  insist,  and  nothing  loth,  he 
crowds  in,  though  to  do  so  he  is  compelled  to  have 
the  proud  New  York  girl  sit  upon  his  lap. 

Stranger  things  than  this  often  occur  to  travelers 
on  the  Continent,  and  Avis  laughs  heartily  at  the 
situation,  while  they  bowl  along,  lurching  this  way 
and  that,  sometimes  threatening  to  be  toppled  over. 
She  blushes  beautifully  when  she  catches  Jack's 
eye,  which  has  a  twinkle  in  it,  for  do  you  know,  the 
«ly  fellow  is  chuckling  to  himself  at  the  thought  of 
how  this  ludicrous  situation  would  strike  the  eye  of 
Mercedes  could  she  but  see  it. 

It  is  impossible  for  Jack  to  even  glance  at  his 
watch  in  order  to  note  how  time  is  passing — he  is  on 
tenter-hooks,  so  to  speak,  until  the  vehicle  drives  up 
to  the  station. 

Then  he  finds  they  are  in  ample  time  for  the  train. 
He  takes  it  upon  himself  to  oversee  all  matters, 
pays  the  driver,  buys  four  first-class  tickets  for 
Paris,  looks  after  the  lugsrage,  and  last,  but  not  least, 
secures  a  compartment  to  themselves.  Such  is  the 
magic  power  of  money  on  the  Continent — in  fact, 
the  same  applies  all  over  the  civilized  world. 

They  are  all  feeling  particularly  joyful  over  the 
success  of  their  game.  No  one  but  Jack  is  aware  ot 
the  fact  that  the  pasha  knows  of  their  hurried  de*> 
parture  from  Madrid. 

Doctor  Jack  walks  up  and  down  outside  on  the 
platform,  under  the  pretense  of  smoking  a  cigar,  al 
though  the  ladies  have  given  him  the  privilege  of 
doing  so  inside — an  opportunity  which  Larry  does 
not  scruple  to  improve  by  using  up  an  unlimited 
number  of  horrid  cigarettes. 


173  DOCTOR  JACK. 

In  reality  Doctor  Jack  is  looking  for  familiar  faces 
— he  wonders  if  the  pasha  will  come,  but  looks  in 
vain  for  the  red  fez  among  the  crowd.  If  the  Turk 
has  arrived  before  them,  he  is  all  this  while  in  one  ot 
the  other  carriages.  Jack,  a,s  he  walks  up  and  down? 
glances  sharply  into  each  compartment,  but  fails  to 
see  the  man  he  looks  for.  A  numbei  of  shades 
are  down  over  the  windows,  and  it  is  as  likely  as  not 
the  pasha  may  be  in  one  of  these  compartments. 

Besides,  Jack  keeps  his  eyes  open — there  are  other 
enemies  to  think  about,  without  taking  the  pasha 
into  consideration,  and  if  any  of  them  are  about  he 
wants  to  know  it.  In  his  mind  he  also  thinks  of 
Mercedes,  and  glances  curiously  at  a  number  of  la 
dies,  but  all  of  them  are  strangers.  One  attracts 
more  than  a  passing  glance— he  cannot  see  her  face, 
for  the  rebosa  hides  it,  but  her  carriage  is  stately 
and  her  form  indicates  youth  and  health. 

He  suspects  that  it  is  Mercedes,  but  would  make 
certain,  so  he  enters  into  an  agreement  with  a  man 
who  seems  to  be  a  porter — there  is  a  hasty  exchange 
of  silver — the  man  grasps  the  situation,  picks  up  a 
box,  and  in  passing  the  lady  manages  that  a  corner 
shall  catch  in  her  long  vail,  which  is  instantly  dis 
lodged.  Jack  chuckles  at  the  success  of  his  little 
game,  even  though  disappointed  at  seeing  the  indig 
nant  face  of  a  stranger,  who  looks  after  the  clumsy 
porter  with  daggers  in  her  black  eyes,  and  proceeds 
to  rearrange  her  rebosa. 

A  bell  sounds — the  guard  cries  "all  aboard"  in 
ins  Spanish  way,  and  Jack,  tossing  his  cigar  aside, 
enters  the  carriage.  Then  the  door  is  locked,  but  as 
the  American  has  bought  the  guard,  body  and  soul, 
he  will  be  on  hand  as  soon  as  the  train  stops  at  a 
station  to  see  what  is  needed. 


DOCTOR  JACK.  179 

Then  they  begin  to  leave  Madrid  behind.  No  one 
is  particularly  sorry  to  do  this,  for  the  Spanish  capi 
tal  has  little  to  charm  the  modern  tourist  like  gay 
Paris,  and  as  the  road  from  the  first  generally  leads 
to  the  second,  every  emotion  can  be  summed  up  in 
anticipation. 

Our  friends  are  very  comfortable,  but  Larry  is  the 
only  merry  one  of  the  four.  Avis  is  thinking  of 
what  lies  in  the  near  future.  Will  they  find  Aleck 
and  manage  to  save  him?  As  she  looks  in  the  direc 
tion  of  Doctor  Jack,  somehow  a  feeling  of  great  peace 
comes  upon  her — his  face  seems  so  strong  and  mas 
terful,  that  she  believes  nothing  can  be  impossible 
with  such  a  man.  It  will  be  readily  perceived  by 
even  the  dullest  reader  that  the  effect  of  their  singu 
lar  meeting  is  having  full  sway,  and  that  Avis  is 
just  about  as  deep  in  the  mud  as  Doctor  Jack  is  in 
the  mire. 

As  for  that  worthy,  he  appears  to  be  glancing  over 
the  pages  of  a  magazine,  but  his  thoughts  are  not  on 
it.  Now  and  again  he  looks  over  the  top  of  the 
pamphlet  at  the  fair  face  near  the  window.  He  is 
pondering  upon  many  things,  and  the  chief  of  these 
is  the  game  which  he  is  expected  soon  to  manipu 
late. 

Will  they  succeed?  Ii  not,  the  result  must  mean 
disaster  to  them  both,  for  Abdallah  Pasha  is  just 
the  man  to  have  a  terrible  revenge. 

Doctor  Jack  knows  the  danger — he  has  assumed  it 
without  a  single  fear,  for  he  also  guesses  the  stake 
he  is  playing  for — Avis. 

If  he  succeeds  she  must  be  his.  As  he  feasts  his 
eves  upon  her  from  time  to  time,  he  makes  up  his 
mind  that  she  is  just  the  girl  a  man  might  go 
through  fire  and  water  for.  The  train  proceeds  in 


MW  1WOTOR  JAGR. 

jerks — at  times  their  speed  is  so  rapid  that  it  almost 
makes  them  dizzy — the  car  swings  from  side  to  side, 
and  they  have  to  hold  on  to  their  seats.  Then  again 
they  creep  along  at  a  snail's  pace.  Larry  laughs, 
and  again  frets  and  fumes,  declaring  that  if  the  deor 
were  only  open  he  would  get  out  and  help  push  the 
train  along. 

Their  course  is  almost  due  northwest  until  the  city 
of  Zaragoza  is  reached,  which  at  this  rate  will  not 
be  until  near  evening.  Then  they  head  northeast, 
finally  north,  crossing  the  border  by  keeping  close 
to  the  Bay  of  Biscay,  at  Bayonne,  when  they  will  be 
in  France,  with  the  dawn  of  a  new  day,  wind  and 
weather  permitting,  after  which  a  run  of  a  few 
hours  will  take  them  to  Paris. 

So  the  morning  passes  with  various  delays — this 
fast  Paris  express  is  a  "terror,"  indeed,  and  makes 
poorer  progress  than  any  train  in  America. 

They  have  all  learned  to  be  philosophical,  and 
take  things  as  they  come.  The  time  passes,  and 
about  noon,  at  a  station  called  by  the  guard  Cala- 
tayod,  a  huge  hamper  is  put  in  the  carriage. 

"Dinner?"  cries  Madame  Sophie,  eagerly,  and 
yet  fearfully,  for  so  many  deceptions  have  been  put 
upon  her  in  Spain  that  she  fears  lest  this  may  be 
»ome  extra  cushions,  or  rugs  to  keep  them  warm 
during  the  night. 

Larry  relieves  her  suspense  by  tossing  back  th« 
lid  of  the  hamper,  disclosing  the  best  dinner  money 
can  buy  in  Spain,  and  all  neatly  packed. 

"They  ought  to  have  a  good  run  of  custom  on  this 
road  if  they  supply  meals  like  that,"  declares  the 
elder  lady,  her  eager  eyes  taking  in  the  contents  of 
the  basket. 

Larry  looks  up,  meets  the  gaze  of  Avis,  sees  an 


JACK.  181 

Interrogation  point  in  her  eyes,  and  with  a  grin 
jerks  his  thumb  back  over  his  shoulder  in  the  direc 
tion  of  Doctor  Jack,  just  now  deeply  engaged  m 
taking  a  nap,  for,  poor  fellow,  he  has  not  had  a 
wink  of  sleep  the  preceding  night. 

Avis  understands — this  thoughtful  man  is  the 
good  genius  whom  they  must  thank  for  such  fore 
thought—he  has  telegraphed  ahead  that  the  dinner 
be  ready,  and  given  the  guard  money  to  pay  for 
everything — that  guard,  by  the  way,  must  imagine 
he  has  an  American  prince  aboard,  judging  from  the 
prodigal  way  he  throws  his  gold  and  silver  around. 

So  the  young  girl  feels  more  than  ever  tender 
toward  the  hero  of  the  arena — somehow  it  seems  to 
her  she  has  known  him  for  years — he  was  Aleck's 
friend,  and  now  her  champion. 

He  seems  to  be  resting  uneasily — the  cushion  has 
partly  fallen  from  under  his  head,  and  bending 
down  Avis  tries  to  rearrange  it.  In  so  doing  a  lurch 
of  the  train  causes  her  hand  to  touch  his  face — his 
eyes  open — she  blushes  as  he  quickly  and  deftly 
catches  her  hand,  and  presses  it  to  his  lips — thank 
Heaven !  the  others  are  so  busy  arranging  dinner  on 
the  table  that  they  do  not  see  this. 

Larry,  seizing  a  tin  pan,  beats  a  tatto  upon  it  in 
lieu  of  a  gong,  and  this  brings  Jack  to  his  feet  with 
ludicrous  haste — love  must  take  a  back  seat  now, 
since  appetite  reigns. 

They  have  great  fun  over  the  dinner,  as  there 
chance  to  be  several  dishes  which  none  of  them 
understand,  so  that  their  tasting  and  comments  on 
these  are  ridiculous.  On  the  whole  the  dinner  is 
good,  and  they  enjoy  it  with  remarkable  unanimity. 

The  others  cannot  but  notice  that  Doctor  Jack  is 
unusually  quiet.  Avis  inquires  if  he  has  a  headache. 


182  DOCTOR  JACK. 

and  is  not  satisfied  when  he  says  no,  for  she  under 
stands  that  there  is  some  worry  on  the  other's  mind. 

In  this  she  is  right — Jack  foresees  trouble  of  some 
sort  ahead.  He  has  learned  that  Don  Carlos  is  on 
the  train,  which  fact  is  in  itself  suggestive,  for  the 
Don  would  not  be  making  this  journey  only  for  his 
presence  aboard. 

Then  he  is  also  sure  the  pasha  must  be  near  at 
hand.  If  these  two  unite  their  forces,  trouble  may 
come.  The  train  has  to  pass  through  a  lonely  section 
of  country  during  the  night  run,  and  makes  so  many 
stops  that  it  would  not  be  difficult  for  a  resolute  body 
of  Carlists  to  capture  the  whole  expedition. 

When  the  meal  is  done  they  chat  for  a  while  and 
look  at  the  scenery.  They  are  now  getting  into  the 
valley  of  the  river  Ebro — vineyards  and  orange 
groves  are  to  be  seen,  although  the  latter  are  not 
plentiful  this  far  north  in  Spain,  the  main  crop  be 
ing  gathered  in  the  region  of  Seville,  in  the  south 
ern  province  of  Andalusia,  and  along  the  warm  coast 
of  the  Mediterranean,  the  upper  portion  of  the  penin 
sula  being  often  bleak  and  cold  in  the  winter  season. 

It  is  half-past  three  when  the  train  enters  the  city 
of  Zaragoza,  on  the  Ebro.  Here  quite  a  long  stop  is 
made — their  course  for  the  next  six  hours  will  be  up 
the  valley  of  the  Ebro,  and  they  may  expect  to  see 
much  more  of  Spanish  thrift  and  industry  than  has 
as  yet  greeted  their  vision. 

Again  Jack  goes  out  to  stretch  his  legs  and  smoke 
a  cigar,  in  which  former  act  the  dude  imitates  him. 
Presently  Larry  sees  some  fruit,  and  rushes  off  to 
buy.  Jack  hopes  he  will  not  be  left  behind,  and  is 
determined  that  nothing  shall  take  him  fiom  the 
vicinity  of  the  car. 

There  are  many  people  at  the  station,  and  he  eyes 


DOCTOR  JACK.  183 

them  with  careless  indifference.     As  he  stands  thus 
he  feels  a  hand  touch  his  arm. 

''Senor  Jack,"  says  a  low,  hesitating  voice — he 
recognizes  it  instantly,  for  he  can  never  forget  that 
velvet-like  tone — wheels  without  delay,  and  then  and 
there  receives  a  powerful  shock. 


184  DUCTVR  JACK. 


CHAPTER  XV. 
"i  GUESS  WE'RE  IN  FOR  IT,  LARRY,  MY  BOY." 

The  person  who  has  touched  him  is  a  boy — hig 
face  shows  traces  of  grime,  and  altogether,  with  his 
ordinary  garments,  he  is  one  upon  whom  a  person 
would  hardly  bestow  a  second  glance. 

It  is  that  face,  however,  upon  which  the  Ameri 
can  fastens  his  eyes — the  voice  has  already  given 
him  a  clew,  and  he  finds  no  difficulty  in  recognizing 
—Mercedes. 

He  has  seen  her  as  flower  girl  and  nun — now  he 
discovers  her  as  a  peasant  boy.  His  admiration  for 
her  boldness  and  qualities  as  an  actress  are  un 
bounded,  and  yet  he  would  not  like  one  he  loved  to 
be  engaged  in  such  a  business. 

Mercedes  understands  that  he  has  recognized  her 
— even  a  faint  blush  appears  beneath  the  grime. 

"Senor  Jack,  do  not  judge  me  before  yon  know 
why  I  am  here — why  I  have  sacrificed  my  beautiful 
hair  and  assumed  this  hateful  disguise.  It  was  to 
warn  you — to  save  you." 

Her  words  are  low — they  thrill  Jack,  and  tell  him 
one  thing  he  is  glad  to  know — that  her  good  angel 
has  triumphed. 

"Warn  me  of  what?"  he  asks,  eagerly,  for  al 
though  despising  danger  for  himself,  he  cannot  for 
get  who  is  in  that  carriage. 

"A  new  danger  awaits  you.  The  train  is  to  be  at 
tacked  by  a  few  Carlist  friends  of  Don  Carlos  when 
it  stops  at  a  small  station.  T  believe  it  is  on  the 
other  side  of  Logrono.  If  you  would  avoid  trouble, 


-  9&0TOR  JAGS.  185 

you  had  better  wait  over  here  for  the  morning  train, 
or  at  least  stop  at  Logrono." 

Jack  ponders — it  is  his  desire  to  get  out  of  the 
country  as  soon  as  possible,  but  he  does  not  want 
to  make  a  mistake. 

"When  are  we  due  at  Logrono?"  he  asks. 

"1  do  not  know — there  is  the  guard." 

"Come  with  me,  we  will  inquire." 

This  brings  them  near  the  train — Mercedes  is  irre. 
sistibly  drawn  to  look  up  at  the  window,  and  a  hot 
wave  sweeps  over  her  face  as  she  sees  the  American 
girl  eying  her.  Unconsciously  she  draws  herself  up 
haughtily  in  a  manner  very  unnatural  to  the  pleas 
ant  character  she  assumes — it  is  a  terrible  torture 
for  the  proud  woman  to  be  thus  scrutinized  by  her 
rival — she  in  a  lowly  disguise,  while  Avis  looks  so 
fresh  and  pretty  in  her  neat  traveling  dress. 

Mercedes  holds  her  breath — she  feels  dizzy,  and  a 
whirl  of  contending  emotions  rush  through  her  mind. 
At  sight  of  her  rival's  cold  stare  her  blood  has 
seemed  like  molten  lava — she  feels  the  position  she 
has  placed  herself  in  keenly,  and  a  desire  for  re 
venge  comes  to  her.  Then  her  eyes  fall  on  the  face  of 
Doctor  Jack — his  calm  gray  eyes  give  her  life  and 
she  is  her  own  true'  self  again,  though  she  feels  that 
during  the  last  minute  she  has  passed  through  the 
fiery  furnace. 

Jack  learns  that  they  reach  the  town  at  about 
half-past  ten,  and  believes  this  is  a  good  time  to 
leave  the  train.  So  he  makes  up  his  mind  to  go  on. 
It  is  unfortunate,  but  not  being  able  to  foresee  fu 
ture  events  he  does  not  know  the  chances  he  takes. 

Mercedes  speaks  a  few  more  words,  and  turns 
away,  for  she  feels  the  eyes  ef  Avis  upon  her  all  the 


time,  and  it  makes  her  very  uncomfortable.  Jack 
sees  her  enter  a  compartment  near  by.  He  does  not 
know  what  to  thh»k  of  her  action,  but,  like  a  sensi 
ble  man,  judges  it  from  the  motive,  which  he  knows 
is  a  noble  one. 

Their  time  is  up — the  signal  cries  are  being  given, 
and  as  yet  Larry  has  not  turned  up.  He  will  be  left 
-  -all  are  anxious  concerning  the  little  dude,  and 
crowd  the  windows — the  guard  has  left  the  door  of 
the  compartment  open,  and  as  the  train  begins  to 
pull  out  Larry  is  seen  running  with  all  the  speed 
his  little  legs  are  capable  of,  his  arms  full  of  the 
fruit  he  has  bought. 

Luckily  the  watchful  guard  sees  him,  ^nd  on  the 
alert  to  please  his  liberal  patron,  he  signals  to  the 
train-master,  so  that  presently  Larry  climbs  into  the 
carriage  exhausted,  out  of  breath,  but  triumphantly 
holding  aloft  his  packages  of  fine  fruit. 

"  "Pon  'onah,  now,"  he  declares,  as  soon  as  he 
cnn  find  breath,  "it  wasn't  my  fault,  ye  see.  I  would 
have  been  back  in  good  time,  but  d'ye  know  a 
beastly  fellah  began  to  accuse  me  of  running  away 
with  his  sister  or  his  aunt,  or  somebody  in  petti 
coats,  caught  me  by  the  arm.  and  declared  it  his  in 
tention  to  awest  me.  1  heard  the  guard  cwy  'all 
aboard/  but,  hang  the  luck — pawdon  the  expwes- 
sion.  ladies,  but  a  fellah  gets  worked  up,  you  know 
— this  chap  wouldn't  let  go,  so  I  just  dwopped  re 
packages,  sailed  into  the  bloody  pirate,  tumbled 
him  over  among  the  owanges,  and  then  snatching 
up  my  bundles  made  a  bee  line  for  the  twain,  which 
I  came  vewy  near  missing,  bah  Jove!" 

That  was  the  story — a  very  simple  one,  and  with 
just  enough  of  the  ludicrous  about  it  to  create  a  .sren- 
eral  laujrh.  Doctor  JacK,  however,  sees  deeper  into 


DOCTOR  .MC'JC  JET 

the  game  than  any  of  the  others,  and  taking  advan 
tage  of  the  first  opportunity  he  tells  Larry  so. 
"The  whole  affair  was  a  set  up  job,"  he  declares. 

"What!"  cries  the  dude. 

"That  man  had  lost  no  wife,  or  sister,  or  grand 
mother.  He  simply  lied." 

"With  what  object  in  view,  pway?" 

"To  detain  you  in  Zaragoza  while  the  rest  of  us 
Went  on,"  replies  Jack. 

"To  wob  me?" 

"It  might  have  come  to  that,  although  I  am  not 
sure.  The  main  object  was  to  separate  you  and  I." 

"Theduse!     What  for?" 

"Simply  that  Avis  might  have  one  the  less  pro* 
tector  when  the  attack  on  the  train  is  made." 

"Attack  on  the  twain!"  gasps  Larry. 

"Certainly.  I  have  learned  that  after  we  leave 
Logrono,  at  a  certain  small  station  where  the  train 
stops  to  give  the  loomotive  a  drink,  a  band  ot  Car' 
lists  mean  to  attack  us.  Their  object  you  can  read 
ily  guess — it  is  to  take  our  lives,  for  you  are  also  ac 
counted  a  traitor  to  the  cau«e,  since  you  are  hand  in 
glove  with  me." 

This  information  astounds  the  New  York  dude,  but 
does  not  frighten  him  It  seems  a  pity  that  such 
indomitable  spirit  should  have  been  placed  by  a 
freak  of  nature  in  such  an  insignificant  little  body. 

"Well,  the  first  part  of  their  scheme  has  been  a 
failure — we  can  outwit  them,  I  rather  guess,  and  if 
not,  then  we '11  fight." 

"Bravo!  Larry,  old  boy.  Never  fear  but  that  two 
such  cronies  as  you  and  I  will  fall  upon  them  hip 
and  thigh  if  the  occasion  arises.  But  I  hope  to  avoid 
ii  by  leaving  the  train  at  Logrono,  and  waiting  over 


188  DOCTOR  JACK. 

until  to-morrow.  By  the  way,  are  you  armed, 
Larry?" 

The  dude  nods. 

"I've  got  a  revolvah  in  my  hip  pocket,  and  was 
accounted  the  crack  shot  of  the  Bon  Ton  Rifle  Club 
in  New  York,"  he  makes  reply. 

"Better  and  better.  I  myself  am  no  mean  marks 
man,  and  I  have  a  dandy  six-shooter  in  my  portman 
teau,  which,  as  you  see,  the  guard  has  placed  under 
the  seat  there.  We  will  not  worry  over  the  matter, 
old  fellow.  Let  us  go  to  the  ladies — they  look  this 
way,  as  though  wondering  what  we  are  plotting 
about." 

Soon  they  are  all  eating  fruit  and  chatting  as  mer. 
rily  as  though  not  the  slightest  shadow  hung  over 
them.  But  Jack  speedily  becomes  aware  of  a  cer 
tain  fact — it  causes  him  additional  worry.  Avis  has 
turned  as  cold  as  an  icicle  toward  him.  When  she 
chats  with  the  rest  she  is  as  merry  as  of  yore,  but  if 
he  asks  her  a  question  she  answers  in  the  shortest 
way  possible. 

Even  the  others  notice  her  manner — how  can  they 
help  it — and  wisely  decide  that  a  chance  should  be 
given  these  two  to  make  up,  for  already  they  look 
upon  Jack  and  Avis  as  lovers. 

As  for  Doctor  Jack,  he  is  puzzled  over  the  action 
of  the  girl.  He  knows  no  reason  for  it,  and  is  about 
to  set  the  thing  down  as  some  peculiarity  in  her  dis 
position — his  experiences  in  the  past  have  warned 
him  that  truth  lies  in  that  old  refrain  of  the  poets : 

"  Oh  !  woman,  in  our  hour  of  ease, 
Uncertain,  coy,  and  hard  to  please. 
And  variable  as  the  shade 
By  the  light,  quivering  aspen  made — 
When  pain  and  anguish  wring  the  brow, 
.  A.  ministering  angel,  thou." 


00CTOR  JACK.  189 

As  chance  will  have  it,  he  finds  himself  with  the 
young  girl  while  the  train  rolls  on  up  the  valley  of 
the  Ebro.  Avis  has  something  on  her  mind,  but  she 
does  not  know  how  to  go  about  introdacing  it.  If 
Jack  only  knew  what  it  was  he  would  gladly  help 
«ier,  but  by  accident  he  stumbles  into  the  breach. 

They  are  talking  of  some  queer'  things  seen  on  the 
way,  and  Jack  happens  to  express  his  opinion  of 
people  with  black  eyes,  first  looking  into  the  trans 
lucent  depths  of  her  own  blue  orbs. 

"Strange  as  it  may  seem,  my  fancy  has  always 
been  in  that  direction — I  have  declared  to  my  friends 
that  if  I  ever  married  it  would  be  a  man  with  black 
eyes.  I  adore  them,"  she  says,  just  like  a  woman 
intent  on  causing  him  pain. 

"The  pasha  has  the  finest  I  ever  saw  in  a  man," 
he  returns,  nonchalantly,  but  the  thrust  only  causes 
her  to  gasp  a  little,  and  resume : 

"And  I  never  saw  such  wonderful  eyes  in  my  life 
as  were  possessed  by  the  peasant  boy  of  Castile  you 
were  talking  with  at  Zaragoza." 

Doctor  Jack  smiles — he  has  discovered  what  is  on 
the  mind  of  Avis  now,  even  before  she  sails  her 
craft  any  closer  to  windward. 

"Ah !  you  noticed  him.  I  was  wishing  you  would 
— I  wanted  you  to  see  him." 

"Indeed!  I  should  have  thought  that  under  such 
circumstances  you  would  have  brought  him  up  to 
the  car  window."  she  says,  coldly. 

Jack  is  entirely  unmoved — firm  in  his  position, 
knowing  he  has  only  done  all  that  a  true  man 
might,  he  does  not  shrink  from  the  investigation 
about  to  begin  at  the  hands  of  the  fair  girl  he  loves. 

"I  endeavored  to  influence  him,  but  he  would  not 
come.  Too  modest,  I  presume,  Miss  Avis," 


190  DOCTOR  JACK. 

She  laughs  at  this — how  disagreeably  even  the 
sweetest  girl  in  the  world  can  laugh  when  she  wants 
to  be  particularly  perverse — and  Avis  Morton  just 
now  is  struggling  with  a  little  demon  her  heart  has 
never  known  before — jealousy. 

Jack  casts  a  side  glance  at  her — wonders  as  to 
what  she  knows,  and  how  much  she  suspects,  and  in 
the  next  breath  learns  all. 

"It  was  my  opinion,  Doctor  Evans,  that  I  had 
never  seen  more  effrontery  exhibited  by  any  one 
than  was  shown  by — that  person." 

The  last  words  are  spoken  through  her  pearly  teeth 
with  particular  force,  and  Jack  knows  now  that 
Mercedes  has  been  unmasked — her  secret  has  not 
been  able  to  stand  before  the  clear  vision  of  those 
keen  Yankee  eyes. 

He  hardly  understands  just  how  to  go  about  it, 
but  an  explanation  is  certainly  in  order,  and  nothing 
but  the  whole  truth  will  satisfy  Avis. 

"Miss  Morton,  there  is  no  need  of  you  and  I  minc^ 
ing  words.  We  understand  each  other.  I  am  led 
to  believe  from  what  you  say  that  you  have  dis 
covered  that  boy's  secret." 

"Boy — well,  no  doubt  other  eyes  were  deceived, 
but  not  mine,"  she  replies,  and  there  is  a  touch  of 
eagerness  in  her  voice,  for  she  has  a  curiosity  to 
know  what  has  caused  the  haughty  Spanish  woman 
to  so  demean  herself  as  to  appear  in  this  humble 
disguise. 

"You  recognized  her  by  her  eyes?"  he  asks. 

"Well,  I  remembered  seeing  such  dazzling  orbs  be 
fore — something  sent  a  suspicion  into  my  brain,  and 
when  she  looked  at  me  I  knew  I  was  right,  for  she 
seemed  ashamed.  Now,  Doctor  Evans,  I  don't  know 
whether  you  owe  me  an  explanation  or  not.  but  I 


-D0&TOB  TAC&.  Wl 

have  believed  and  trusted  in  you  as  a  gentleman, 
and  unless  you  have  objections  I  should  like  to 
know  why  Mercedes  Gonzales  is  on  the  same  train 
with  you,  in  deep  disguise,  and  why  she  talked  with 
you  so  earnestly  at  the  station. '; 

Straight  to  the  point  these  come,  but  Jack  is  ever 
ready  to  defend  the  absent,  which  trait  is  one  of  the 
noblest  in  his  make-up. 

"First  of  all,  Avis — Miss  Morton — before  I  tell  you 
the  whole  story  from  the  beginning,  I  must  beg  that 
you  will  not  condemn  the  Senorita  Mercedes  from 
our  cold  American  standpoint.  They  do  things  dif 
ferently  here  in  old  Spain,  and  that  she  is  possessed 
of  a  noble  nature  after  all  I  can  prove  by  telling  you 
that  she  is  even  now  risking  her  own  life  to  save  us 
from  a  threatened  danger — warning  of  which  she 
gave  me  when  at  Zaragoza.'" 

At  this  Avis  looks  sorry — her  cold  manner  van 
ishes  like  the  hoar-frost  in  the  morning  sun,  and 
upon  her  face  steals  a  look  of  eager  anticipation. 
Already  her  heart  is  warming  toward  the  Spanish 
girl,  and  it  will  soon  beat  with  even  greater  sym 
pathy  when  she  learns  how  Mercedes,  in  her  strange 
way,  played  for  the  stake  and  failed  to  grasp  it. 

Jack  glances  toward  the  others — Aunt  Sophie  is 
fast  asleep,  and  Larry  head  over  ears  in  a  French 
norel  that  chains  his  attention.  The  coast  is  clear, 
the  rattle  of  the  train  prevents  other  ears  catching 
his  words  than  those  they  are  intended  for. 

The  doctor  is  a  capital  story-teller — he  has  proven 
this  upon  the  same  audience  when  he  related  his  ad 
ventures  in  Turkey  at  the  time  her  brother  got  into 
trouble.  Avis  unconsciously  snuggles  down  closer 
in  order  to  hear  better,  and — welL  Jack  makes  no 
objection. 


WS  UVC'JOH  JACK. 

He  begins  with  his  visit  to  the  mountains,  telis  of 
Don  Carlos,  then  of  Barcelona,  the  pretty  flower  girl 
of  the  Ranibla,  the  adventure  in  the  street,  and  the 
nun  of  Gerona.  Then  he  goes  on  to  tell  of  the  bull 
fight  and  all  that  has  happened  in  Madrid. 

When  he  comes  to  Mercedes'  visit  to  his  hotel  he 
tries  to  soften  the  Spanish  girl's  actions  as  well  as 
he  can,  and  although  Avis  despises  the  one  who 
could  thus  sue  for  a  man's  love,  she  cannot  but  re 
gard  Jack  with  more  respect  because  he  tries  to 
shield  Mercedes  and  make  light  of  her  folly. 

One  thing  burns  to  the  heart  of  the  New  York  gijrl 
— Jack  has  hinted  that  when  he  first  saw  Mercedes 
he  was  somewhat  struck  by  her  intense  beauty,  and 
that  only  for  a  certain  thing  he  might  have  returned 
her  love — what  does  he  mean — can  it  be  possible — 
why  does  the  blood  leap  so  wildly  through  her  veins 
at  the  bare  thought  of  such  a  possibility? 

There  is  a  magnetic  power  about  this  man,  and  to 
herself  she  admits  that  he  has  come  through  the 
fiery  furnace  unscathed — yes,  and  with  an  added 
luster  in  her  sight.  He  is  one  to  be  proud  rf — a 
faithful  friend,  and  as  a  lover — well,  she  dares  not 
think  upon  such  a  forbidden  subject,  but  declares 
secretly  that  Jack  Evans  is  by  far  the  noblest  charao 
ter  she  has  ever  met. 

"When  Jack  finishes  his  story  Avis  knows  all, 
even  the  danger  in  prospect,  and  yet  this  does  not 
alarm  her,  since  Jack  will  be  there.  She  has  already 
learned  to  rely  upon  his  mighty  right  arm,  and 
should  the  occasion  ever  come  when  the  Amei^cau 
athlete  must  bow  to  superior  numbers  in  her  pres 
ence,  Avis  will  be  doubly  shocked,  believing  him  in- 
yincible 

Evening   is  coming  on  apace,  and   the   train   still 


JAQK.  lift 

winds  in  and  out,  up  the  valley  of  the  Kbro.  It  is 
very  picturesque  as  seen  in  the  light  of  declining 
day.  At  the  next  station  the  guard  enters  and 
lights  the  lamps. 

Jack  has  ordered  a  bountiful  supper,  which  is  put 
aboard  here  in  the  same  manner  that  the  dinner 
was,  and  as  they  annihilate  space — that  sounds  very 
big  for  use  upon  a  Spanish  railroad,  but  it  happens 
that  just  then  they  are  making  pretty  good  time— 
they  set  about  enjoying  the  meal. 

Then  they  chat  about  various  things,  and  the  time 
passes  away.  All  is  gotten  in  readiness  for  leaving 
the  carriage  at  Logrono,  where  they  will  find  a  de 
cent  hotel,  and  can  await  th«  train  that  leaves  for 
Bayonne  about  three  the  next  afternoon. 

Jack  finds  it  is  ten  o'clock. 

"In  half  an  hour  or  so  we  will  be  there,"  he  says. 
Larry  declares  they  are  behind  time,  and  the  speed 
with  which  they  travel  seems  to  prove  that  some 
thing  is  wrong. 

Half-past  ten  arrives — there  is  no  town  in  sight  at 
all.  About  twelve  minutes  later  they  rush  into  a 
place — lights  are  seen — a  whistle  shrieks,  bells  jingle 
— they  pass  a  station  on  which  people  can  be  de 
tected,  and  once  more  plunge  into  the  darkness  be" 
yond. 

Doctor  Jack  turns  to  Larry— the  latter  is  aghast. 

"  Ton  'onah!  that's  dused  queer,"  gasps  tho 
dude. 

"That  was  Logrono,  sure  enough — we  are  iato, 
and  the  conductor  must  have  had  orders  not  to  stop. 
All  very  good,  but  I  guess  we're  in  for  it,  Larry,  my 
boy,"  adds  Jack,  with  a  grim  smile. 


DOCTOR  JACK. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

THE    LION    AT    BAY. 

The  situation  is  appalling — Madame  Sophie  shrieks 
and  hides  her  face  with  her  hands,  for  she  has  been 
told  the  danger — even  Larry  delivers  himself  of  a 
singular  mixture  of  choice  expressions  such  as  are 
heard  upon  Broadway  in  the  vicinity  of  t}ie  Bruns 
wick,  and  nowhere  else,  by  means  of  which  he  in 
tends  to  let  the  surplus  steam  escape. 

As  for  Avis,  she  stands  there  as  white  as  chalk, 
and  with  her  starry  eyes  fastened  upon  Doctor  Jack. 
In  an  emergency  like  this,  thank  God  for  the  pres 
ence  of  a  man. 

The  latter,  after  throwing  his  last  words  at  Larry, 
coolly  bends  down  and  seizes  his  portmanteau,  which 
has  been  snugly  lying  ensconced  under  a  seat.  With 
a  turn,  and  a  toss,  he  has  it  out  upon  the  floor. 
The  others  watch  him  in  dumb  anxiety  while  he  fits 
a  key,  and  then  throws  open  the  little  leather  trunk. 

Inserting  his  hand,  he  draws  out  two  leather  hols 
ters  of  unusual  size,  such  as  might  be  worn  by  the 
dashing  cowboys  of  the  wild  West.  Each  of  these 
holds  a  weapon  of  some  sort. 

Laying  them  on  the  seat,  Jack  again  locks  the 
portmanteau.  Then  he  places  it  against  the  side  of 
the  car  in  such  a  way  that  it  will  afford  protection 
in  the  threatening  engagement. 

"Come,  Larry,  look  alive,  man.  We  must  do  our 
level  best  to  beat  these  fellows.  Take  all  the  cush 
ions,  and  form  a  rampart — they  will  make  almost  as 
good  a  fort  as  sand  bags." 


DOCTOR  JACK 

The  dude  sees  the  idea,  and  catches  some  of  his 
enthusiasm.  He  springs  to  the  task,  and  in  a  short 
space  of  time  the  interior  of  that  first-class  compart 
ment  presents  a  most  singular  and  ridiculous  ap 
pearance,  to  say  the  least.  With  the  cushions  and 
everything  that  can  be  made  available,  the  men  have 
formed  a  bullet-proof  barricade,  behind  which  one 
might  lie  in  security  while  leaden  rain  rattled  about, 
for  the  hair  in  the  cushions  would  arrest  the  pro 
gress  of  any  ball. 

True,  there  is  only  room  for  two  behind  it — Avis 
notices  this  fact,  and  looks  at  Jack. 

"Where  will  you  be?"  she  asks,  anxiously — for 
already  her  interest  in  his  welfare  is  great,  and  ft 
makes  a  great  .difference  to  her  whether  he  is 
wounded  or  unhurt. 

Jack  smiles  in  reply — it  gives  him  a  peculiar  sat 
isfaction  to  realize  that  she  is  worried  about  his  con 
dition. 

"Oh!  Larry  and  I  will  get  on  well  enough  out 
here,  I  reckon." 

"I  presume  you  are  bullet-proof,"  sarcastically. 

"Not  exactly,  but  you  see  we  can  crouch  down, 
and  if  we  are  struck" — with  a  shrug  of  the  shoul 
ders — "why  it's  the  fortune  of  war." 

"Very  good — of  course  you  can  please  yourselves 
so  far  as  that  is  concerned,  but  you  forget  that  if 
both  of  you  are  shot  we  shall  be  without  any  pro 
tectors." 

It  is  ingeniously  put,  and  Jack  laughs. 

"Very  good,  as  you  say.  Do  you  and  Madame  So 
phie  crowd  close  to  the  wall  as  possible,  then  when 
the  time  comes,  and  should  the  bullets  fly  too 
thickly,  we  may  creep  behind  the  barrier,  too.  I 
confess  your  last  argument  has  floored  me."  He 


DOCTOR  JACK. 

speaks  a  little  coldly,  as  though  wounded  by  her 
•words,  and  seizing  the  opportunity  while  Larry  is 
stowing  Madame  Sophie  away,  Avis  bends  her  head 
close  to  the  curly  locks  of  Jack,  whispering: 

"Forgive  me — I  only  used  that  as  an  argument. 
It  was  you  I  thought  of,  not  msyelf,"  and  before  he 
can  turn  she  is  beside  Madame  Sophie. 

All  seems  now  arranged.  The  whistle  gives  a 
series  of  diabolical  shrieks,  no  doubt  as  a  signal  for 
the  watering-place  ahead,  and  they  can  feel  the  train 
begin  to  slacken  its  speed. 

Evidently  the  critical  time  is  near  at  hand—Jack 
gives  one  last  look  around.  It  is  a  strange  spectacle 
and  he  will  never  forget  it.  He  has  already  taken 
the  two  long,  deadly-looking  Western  revolvers  from 
their  holsters — it  is  like  slipping  the  hounds  of  war 
from  the  leash.  These  weapons  may  have  been 
through  many  singular  scenes  in  the  past,  but  they 
never  saw  one  that  equalled  the  present. 

"Are  you  all  right?"  asks  Jack.  He  receives  a 
look  from  Avis  that  nearly  sets  him  wild,  for  it  tells 
him  how  anxious  the  New  York  girl  is  about  his 
welfare.  Every  one  having  answered  in  the  affirma 
tive,  Doctor  Jack  proceeds  to  quickly  extinguish  the 
lamps. 

Darkness  comes — inky  darkness.  The  train  is 
gradually  slowing  up,  so  that  whatever  may  be  in 
store  for  them  they  must  soon  know  the  worst.  It 
is  a  wild  country  just  along  here,  and  the  whistle  of 
the  locomotive  has  sounded  as  though  thev  were 
passing  through  a  deep  valley,  the  echoes  were  so 
loud. 

Doctor  Jack  presses  his  face  against  the  window, 
and  endeavors  to  see  what  is  coming.  There  is  a 
great  light  of  some  sort  ahead — it  flashes  and  flickers 


SECTOR  JA^K.  197 

as  might  a  huge  fire,  which  is  probably  the  cause  of 
the  illumination.  Jack  is  glad  of  this,  as  it  will  give 
them  a  chance  to  see  what  goes  on.  If  they  can  re 
main  in  darkness  while  their  enemies  are  in  the 
light  the  advantage  must  surely  rest  with  them. 

Slowly  the  train  creeps  along,  and  at  length,  after 
several  jerks,  comes  to  a  full  stop.  The  shouts  of 
excited  men  can  be  heard,  and  also  a  roaring,  crack 
ling  sound,  as  the  huge  fire  burns  up  the  combustible 
material  given  to  it,  while  the  pulsations  of  the 
engine  may  be  detected  at  regular  intervals. 

Taken  altogether,  and  considering  the  fact  that 
they  are  the  cause  of  all  this  excitement,  the  situa 
tion  is  one  that  can  never  be  forgotten  by  the 
American  tourists.  The  women  hold  their  breath 
with  suspense,  and  pray — the  men  grit  their  teeth 
and  watch. 

Louder  an  hoarser  grow  the  shouts — they  are  ap 
proaching  nearer.  Jack  drops  a  window,  and  thrusts 
his  head  out.  He  sees  a  sight  well  calculated  to 
thrill  even  the  bravest  man  when  he  remembers 
that  it  is  himself  all  this  racket  is  about. 

Ahead  burns  the  great  bonfire,  so  close  to  the 
track  that  the  cars  will  be  blistered  by  the  heat  if 
they  remain  stationary  long.  A  water  tank  is  seen, 
and  the  engine-driver  is  taking  in  a  supply  of  the 
aqueous  fluid  with  the  nonchalance  that  distin 
guishes  railroad  men  the  world  over.  It  is  none  of 
his  quarrel — his  duty  is  only  to  see  that  the  locomo 
tive  is  in  a  condition  to  go.  Perhaps  he,  too,  is  a  Car- 
list,  and  deep  in  the  plot — who  knows? 

Scattered  along  the  side  of  the  train  are  a  score  of 
man — ihey  advance  in  the  direction  of  the  compart 
ment  our  friends  occupy,  and  it  is  evident  that  this 
is  the  ©bject  of  their  rush.  Several  carry  lighted 


108  DQQT9R  JACK. 

flambeaux,  which  they  whirl  about  over  their  heads 
in  a  weird  manner — they  look  like  fire-fiends  leap 
ing  forward  to  seize  their  prey. 

Jack  is  intensely  interested  in  the  picture,  but  the 
time  is  hardly  a  profitable  one  for  sight-seeing, 
^iiice  these  men  are  advancing  with  murder  in  their 
minds.  He  counts  their  number,  and  finds  about  a 
score—  of  course  it  is  possible  there  may  be  more  on 
the  other  side  of  the  train,  but  all  that  are  in  sight 
ne  has  enumerated  in  this  figure. 

What  manner  of  men  they  are  remains  to  be  seen. 
*ack  does  not  have  a  very  exalted  opinion  of  what 
jjarlists  he  has  already  met,  and  doubts  not  but  that 
*nese  fellows  will  prove  to  be  cowardly.  Still,  their 
number  may  carry  the  day. 

An  idea  strikes  Doctor  Jack — he  wishes  he  had 
thought  of  it  before — is  it  too  late  now?  He  turns 
Ho  Larry,  and  in  a  quick  tone  says: 

"Would  you  dare  to  try  and  make  your  way  up  to 
nhe  engine,  arid  force  the  engineer  to  pull  out  at  the 
)oint  of  the  revolver?  I'm  afraid  he's  in  league 
with  them.  It  is  our  only  hope." 

His  enthusiasm  is  communicated  to  the  dude- 
Larry  is  ready  to  do  and  dare  anything. 

"Yes.  I  will  go,  but  do  you  think  you  can  keep 
the  fiends  out  of  here?"  he  asks. 

"I  will  hold  the  fort  against  a  hundred  for  ten 
minutes,"  replies  Jack,  firmly. 

"That  ought  to  be  ample  time — let  me  take  an  ob 
servation — now  pass  me  through  the  open  window — 
good-by,  Avis." 

He  is  gone. 

All  has   been  said  and  done  in  less  than  a  minue 

of  time.     The  foremost  of  the  advancing  Carlists  is 

iot  far  away,  but  nis  eyes  are  blinded  by  the  torch 


DOCTOR  JACK.  199 

he  carries.  Besides,  the  men  seem  to  have  an  idea 
that  the  railway  carriage  at  which  some  01  them 
are  now  pounding  is  the  one  in  which  they  may 
find  those  they  seek,  hence  as  yet  no  attention  is 
paid  to  the  one  which  our  friends  have  barricaded. 

As  Jack  thrusts  his  head  out  again  he  sees  this 
fact — Larry  is  not  in  sight,  having  been  wise  enough 
to  at  once  crawl  under  tne  car,  and  get  upon  the 
side  where  the  shadows  lie. 

The  situation  is  indeed  thrilling.  Jack,  from  his 
perch,  watches  what  is  going  on  beyond,  and  t<* 
himself  counts  the  throbs  of  the  locomotive — eac>« 
pulsation  is  like  a  heart-beat,  marking  the  passage 
of  time,  and  time  is  what  they  want  now  to  insur** 
safety.  Each  second  is  precious,  and  fraught  witl- 
great  possibilities. 

The  carriage  the  Carlists  have  attacked  contain* 
the  pasha  and  Don  Carlos — Jack  sees  them  app^ar- 
hears  the   latter  call  upon  the  assailants  to  ceas*» 
tb.eir  foolish  demonstrations,  and   apply  them  in  th** 
proper  place.     Then  Jack  sees  the  senor  point  in  hi* 
direction — a  shout  arises  as  if  the  crowd  sight  bin? 
and  a  forward  rush  is  made. 

The  man  of  steel  calmly  awaits  the  assault — ** 
physician  might  have  taken  hold  of  his  wrist  jus* 
then  and  be  amazed  to  find  his  pulse  beating  a* 
regularly  as  clock-work. 

On  come  the  shouting  fiends— they  are  at  the 
carriage  windows  now — several  blows  from  clubs 
dash  the  glass  into  a  thousand  pieces,  and  men 
clamber  up.  The  glare  of  the  torches  show  their 
excited  faces — they  look  like  demons  let  loose  from 
Hades. 

5To  longer  is  the  interior  of  the  carriage  wrapped 
in  darkness,  for  the  blazing  flambeaux  thrust  near 


8fiO  &WTOR  JA6K. 

each  window  reveals  all.  Loud  shouts  are  littered 
• — above  all  else  Jack  can  hear  them  calling  linn  an 
accursed  government  spy,  and  demanding  that  he 
come  out  to  his  doom. 

But  for  the  helpless  women,  whom  he  has  sworn 
not  to  desert,  Doctor  Jackf  is  just  the  man  to  leap 
into  the  midst  of  the  mob,  and  let  them  have  a  fair 
chance  to  down  the  foreigner  who  slew  the  mad  hull 
—he  will  not  leave  the  carriage  now  unless  dragged 
out. 

In  one  hand  he  holds  a  revolver — the  other  weapon 
is  close  by,  within  reach.  A  man  leans  through  the 
broken  window,  and  with  a  horrible  laugh  lays  hold 
of  the  American's  sleeve,  as  though  he  would  draw 
him  out  of  the  opening,  but  Jack  clutches  his  wrist 
and  gives  it  a  twist  that  breaks  the  bone,  and  se^-ds 
the  wretch  howling  back. 

Others  by  this  time  are  endeavoring  to  squeeze 
themselves  through — if  Jack  will  not  come  out  to 
them  they  mean  to  enter  and  take  him  by  force. 
The  time  will  admit  of  no  delay,  nor  does  Jack  hesi 
tate.  Since  the  battle  is  on,  he  means  to  give  these 
wretched  Carlists  all  they  can  manage,  'and  in  a 
case  of  this  kind  one  determined  man  may  accom 
plish  wonders  by  prompt  action. 

The  terrible  right  arm  is  brought  into  play,  and 
in  a  shorter  space  of  time  than  it  takes  to  tell  it  the 
car  windows  are  cleared.  They  spring  up  again,  or 
others  in  their  places,  and  Jack  is  kept  busy. 

By  this  time  the  uproar-  is  terrible  Several  shots 
have  been  fired  in  at  the  windows,  and  although 
they  are  sent  at  random,  one  at  least  draws  the 
brave  man's  blood.  All  this  while,  from  the  noise 
outside,. one  would  think  pandemonium  had  broken 
loose.  Ordinary  passengers  on  the  train,  thinking 


D&CTOR  JAVK.  201 

they  have  been  stopped  by  bandits  from  the  moun 
tain  passes,  add  to  the  racket  by  their  cries  of  terror. 

The  two  women  in  the  barricaded  coach  do  not 
shriek  out — Madame  Sophie,  huddled  in  the  corner, 
moans  and  groans — Avis,  with  elevated  head,  and 
white  face,  watches  the  actions  of  her  hero,  expect 
ing  to  see  him  fall  at  any  moment,  when  her  heart 
must  break.  Those  terrible  minutes  bring  Doctor 
Jack  closer  to  her  than  years  might  during  an  or 
dinary  acquaintance — she  sees  the  man  as  he  is, 
bold  as  a  lion  in  defense  of  the  woman  he  loves. 

It  is  now  fast  becoming  apparent  to  Jack  that  he 
must  adopt  other  tactics,  since  his  enemies  have 
about  given  over  the  idea  of  entering  the  carriage, 
and  are  opening  upon  him  with  all  manner  of  weap 
ons. 

So  he  begins  to  shoot.  When  he  spoke  to  Larry 
about  having  some  practice  in  this  line,  he  did  not 
come  near  the  truth  —his  equal  as  a  pistol  shot  would 
be  hard  to  find,  since  he  can  drive  a  nail  as  far  as 
the  eye  can  see  it. 

Hence,  it  is  not  at  all  likely  that  he  will  waste  a 
single  bullet — not  that  he  aims  to  take  life,  but 
rather  to  inflict  such  wounds  as  will  place  the  victim 
hors  de  combat,  and  reduce  the  number  of  his  foes. 

Consternation  soon  becomes  visible  among  the 
Carlists — they  have  met  with  a  resistance  unlocked 
for,  and  quite  demoralizing.  Could  Jack  keep  up  the 
firing  indefinitely,  he  will  have  no  difficulty  in 
driving  them  off,  but  already  one  of  his  revolvers 
fails  to  explode  as  he  pulls  the  trigger,  and  he 
knows  the  cylinder  is  empty,  while  the  other  can 
not  be  far  from  the  same  condition. 

The  enemy  seem  almost  ready  to  break  and  run 
when  Jack  ceases  firing.  The  fact  that  the  terrible 


JA6IL 

rain  of  lead  has  stopped  gives  them  new  courage, 
and  they  rally.  As  he  sees  them  advance  a^ahi 
Jack,  who  has  everything  in  readiness,  tries  to  in 
sert  new  cartridges  into  the  cylinder,  but  this  work 
cannot  be  easily  done  and  he  only  gets  three  seated 
when  the  howling  uemons  are  again  at  the  win 
dows. 

Once  more  the  scene  is  enacted,  but  while  Jack 
has  hopes  of  keeping  them  off  he  sees  a  new  and 
terrible  danger  menace  the  occupants  of  tl>e  car. 
Some  of  the  Carlists,  inflamed  to  white  heat  by  their 
wounds,  have  run  to  the  great  bonfire,  and  snatch 
ing  up  armfuls  of  the  brush  begin  to  carry  it  along, 
and  pile  it  under  the  car.  Their  intention  cannot 
be  mistaken — they  mean  to  set  fire  to  the  railway 
carriage,  and  roast  the  occupants. 

In  vain  do  the  pasha  and  Don  Carlos  storm — their 
men  have  been  transformed  into  devils  by  the  stub 
born  resistance  of  this  man  who  defies  them,  and 
are  no  longer  amenable  to  discipline.  Those  who 
urged  them  on  have  sown  the  wind,  and  they  must 
reap  the  whirlwind. 

It  is  a  horrible  situation,  and  even  brave  Doctor 
Jack  feels  his  flesh  creep  as  he  contemplates  the 
doom  before  them.  Nothing  that  he  can  do  will 
avert  the  disaster — already  he  is  compelled  to  strain 
every  nerve  to  keep  the  wretches  from  clambering 
in  at  the  windows. 

Oh !  if  the  train  would  only  move — minutes  have 
passed  since  Larry  disappeared,  and  they  have  been 
the  longest  minutes  Jack  ever  knew,  seeming  more 
like  hours.  What  has  become  of  the  little  dude — 
could  he  have  been  waylaid  and  knocked  over  be 
fore  reaching  the  locomotive?  If  so,  their  doom  is 
assured. 


203 

Already  a  naming  torch  has  been  applied  to  the 
brush  beneath  the  carriage,  and  the  crackling  of 
flames  cause  Madame  Sophie  to  cry  out  in  terror. 

"To  think  that  I  should  come  all  the  way  from 
Boston  to  be  cooked  in  an  oven  like  a  baked  potato. 
Some  one  save  me — help!  help!" 

No  one  notices  her  cries,  for  they  have  other 
things  to  do.  Avis  no  longer  crouches  by  the  side  of 
the  Bostonian — she  has  arisen  to  her  feet,  and  Jack, 
feeling  a  hand  upon  his  arm,  turns  and  confronts  her. 

"What  are  you  doing  here?  Avis,  for  God's  sake 
go  back  again.  You  might  be  struck  by  some  flying 
missile,"  he  cries,  earnestly. 

"I  am  in  no  more  danger  than  you  are,"  she  an 
swers,  "besides,  unless  something  desperate  is  done 
soon  we  are  doomed.  That  fire  will  set  the  car  in  a 
blaze." 

"Yes,  yes — if  I  could  only  get  one  of  my  revolvers 
loaded,  I  would  jump  down  among  the^e  wolves, 
frighten  them  off,  and  extinguish  the  blaze,  but — " 
and  his  action  completed  the  sentence,  for  he  is  com 
pelled  to  clear  the  windows  of  the  clinging  wretches 
again. 

"Give  me  the  weapon  and  cartridges.  I  know  how 
to  load  it,  thank  Heaven.  You  should  have  done 
this  before,  Jack." 

Manlike,  he  has  not  thought  of  such  a  possibility, 
but  he  sees  the  wisdom  of  her  proposition,  places  the 
long  revolvers  and  cartridges  higher  hands,  and  then 
springs  at  more  ugly  heads  in  the  windows,  which 
must  be  kept  clear  at  whatever  cost 

The  flames  crackle  merrily  below  as  the  fire  gains 
headway,  and  the  Carlists  seem  to  be  ctbandoning 
the  attack  to  some  extent,  certain  that  the  heat  wil) 


either  roast  their  enemies  in  the  car,  or  drive  them 
out  to  fail  victims  to  those  who  lie  in  wait. 

In  the  midst  of  this  intensely  dramatic  situation 
there  suddenly  rings  out  upon  the  night  air  a  shrill 
cry — the  voice  is  clear  and  resonant,  piercing  the 
atmosphere  and  striking  terror  to  the  heart  of  each 
Carlist. 

"Fly!  fly  for  your  lives,  comrades!  It  is  a  trap! 
We  are  lost !  The  soldiers  are  surrounding  us.  Fly 
in  the  name  of  the  Virgin!'* 

Wild  excitement  ensues — men  utter  oaths,  and  the 
wounded  pray  aloud  to  be  taken  off.  Jack  thrusts 
his  head  out  of  the  carriage — he  has  recognized  the 
voice  that  has  uttered  those  thrilling  words  in  Span 
ish.  It  is  Mercedes — yes,  as  he  glances  along  the 
side  of  the  train  he  sees  the  supposed  peasant  boy 
running  toward  them,  waving  his  cap,  and  still 
shouting  the  words  of  warning  that  have  created 
such  consternation  in  the  breasts  of  the  Carlists. 

Reaching  the  car  under  which  the  fire  is  blazing 
the  brave  girl  immediately  dashes  the  burning 
brands  aside—  tfiey  are  saved! 

It  is  only  a  temporary  respite,  however — the  Car- 
lists  are  recalled  by  the  commands  of  Don  Carlos, 
who  understands  the  situation,  and  come  running  or 
crawling  back.  Undoubtedly  it  is  their  intention  to 
repeat  the  performance,  having  seen  how  near  suc- 
cees  they  came  before. 

By  this  time,  however,  Avis  has  placed  the  loaded 
revolver  in  Jack's  hand,  and  taken  the  other  from 
him.  He  feels  that  all  is-  not  lost  so  long  as  this 
brave  girl  is  beside  him — her  presence  gives  him  a 
new  courage,  and  he  knows  they  must  succeed. 

Again  he  opens  on  the  advancing  foe — now  he 
does  not  care  where  nis  bullets  go  so  long  as  they 


DOCTOR  JACK.  205 

cut  home.  Tliese  inhuman  monsters  would  burn  in 
nocent  women  to  death  in  the  car  in  order  to  get  at 
him,  so  there  is  no  reason  he  should  spare  them. 

They  are  possessed  of  a  certain  desperate  valor— 
perhaps  the  sight  of  blood  has  wrought  them  up  to 
the  highest  pitch  of  excitement.  At  any  rate,  they 
continue  to  rush  upon  the  car  in  a  way  that  as 
tonishes  Jack,  who  has  never  believed  them  equal 
to  it. 

Some  crawl  underneath — it  is  their  object  to  once 
more  gather  the  scattered  brands  and  make  a  new 
blaze,  which  this  time  they  will  guard  zealously, 
and  no  false  alarm  shall  send  them  scurrying  toward 
the  hills. 

Again  the  situation  becomes  strained — Jack  has 
emptied  his  revolver — he  seizes  that  which  Avis 
thrusts  into  his  hand,  and  moves  in  the  direction  of 
the  window.  She  reads  his  intention,  and  knows  it 
is  a  forlorn  hope. 

"No,  no,  you  shall  not  go,"  she  cries,  her  hand 
clasping  his  arm  tightly. 

"I  must — it  is  our  only  chance.  I  shall  scatter  the 
jackals — or  die  trying." 

"You  must  not — will  not!  It  is  unnecessary.  See, 
do  you  not  feel  the  car  shake — we  are  moving,  Jack 
— the  train  starts — yes,  and  we  are  saved,"  and  she 
falls  back  on  his  arm  almost  in  a  swoon,  while  Jack, 
discovering  the  truth,  cries: 

"Thank  God!     Larry  is  at  the  lever!" 


2ub  VUCTMt  JAQfL 

CHAPTER  XVII. 

IN  THE   OFFICE   Ol    THE   PARIS   PREFECT  OF  POLICB. 

When  Larry  finds  himself  under  the  railway  car* 
riage  he  has  already  mapped  out  the  course  he 
means  to  pursue.  The  other  side  of  the  train  is  partly 
in  darkness,  and  consequently  this  must  be  his  line 
of  advance  in  the  direction  of  the  locomotive. 

He  pursues  it,  at  times  hiding  in  order  to  screen 
himself  from  observation,  but  all  the  while  draw 
ing  nearer  the  head  of  the  train,  that  pulsating  en 
gine,  panting  there  as  if  eager  to  continue  its  on 
ward  race. 

Once  a  man  confronts  the  dude — he  seems  to  be 
desirous  of  halting  him,  perhaps  recognizing  Larry 
as  one  of  the  party  against  whom  the  animosity  of 
the  Carlists  is  aroused ;  but  the  tourist  is  in  a  hurry, 
and  cannot  stop  to  satisfy  the  curiosity  of  this  fel 
low — the  clamor  that  arises  from  the  rear  announces 
that  the  battle  is  on,  and  seconds  are  precious. 
When  the  man  attempts  to  use  force,  Larry  gives 
him  the  benefit  of  the  weapon  he  carries,  and 
presses  on  toward  his  goal,  the  puffing  motor. 

More  than  once  he  is  delayed  by  being  compelled 
to  hide,  so  that  minutes  elapse  before  he  finds  him 
self  in  the  vicinity  of  the  engine. 

The  panic  is  now  on,  and  Larry  wonders  what 
causes  it,  as  he  has  not  understood  the  cry  raised  by 
Mercedes  in  advancing.  It  ceases,  and  once  mor« 
the  melee  begins,  but.  thank  Heaven,  he  is  now  be 
side  the  locomotive. 

In  appearance  it  differs  from  those  he  is  in  th$ 
habit  of  seeing  in  America,  but  they  all  work  oi»  th» 


JAVA.  207 

same  principle,  and,  if  necessary,  Lsrry  is  ready  to 
set  the  lever  and  open  the  throttle  himbtiii. 

The  engine-driver  is  in  the  cab,  but  has  his  head 
out,  interested  in  what  is  going  on.  If  the  mob  is 
about  to  burn  the  rear  carriage,  some  one  had  better 
uncouple  it  from  the  rest,  and  let  him  pull  them  off 
to  a  point  of  safety. 

He  is  just  telling  a  train  man  this  when  he  feels  a 
clutch  on  his  arm,  turns  around,  and  looks  intc 
Larry's  revolver.  The  desperate  dude  never  ap 
peared  so  big  to  any  one  in  all  his  life  as  he  does  in 
the  eyes  of  the  astonished  engine-driver — the  fact  of 
his  holding  a  loaded  revolver  may  have  something 
to  do  with  it. 

"Start  the  train  ahead!"  snaps  Larry.  His  iook 
and  the  tone  of  his  voice  cannot  be  mistaken  even  if 
the  other  does  not  understand  the  words  used.  The 
man  makes  a  gesture,  and  in  broken  English  stam 
mers  that  he  dares  not  start  without  orders. 

"There  is  your  order — start  the  train,"  roar«  the 
irate  dude,  thrusting  the  revolver  into  the  other's 
face,  and  pointing  to  the  throttle. 

The  man  looks  him  over  as  if  to  size  him  up — there 
is  something  he  does  not  like  abcut  the  diminutive 
New  Yorker,  and  perhaps  he  sees  death  in  his  eye — 
at  any  rate,  he  turns  sullenly  around,  grasps  lever 
and  throttle,  throws  the  one  into  place,  and  openg 
the  other  cautiously. 

As  the  train  moves,  a  shout  arises  without — men 
run  frantically  toward  the  engine,  and  Larry  stands 
rea.dy  to  shoot  the  first  one  who  tries  to  come  aboard. 

"Faster — open  the  throttle,  man!"  and  he  gives 
the  driver's  arm  a  jerk — the  throttle  is  thrown  open, 
and  with  a  jump  the  train  begins  to  gather  head 
way. 


208  BVCTOR  JACK. 

It  is  too  late  now  to  unfasten  the  last  car— no  one 
can  do  it,  for  most  of  the  shouting  Carlists  are  left 
behind,  and  a  few  who  still  cling  to  the  cars  are 
dropping  off  in  great  terror  lest  they  be  carried  off, 
and  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  government  forces. 

Larry  beams  with  triumph,  but  he  knows  it  is  too 
early  to  crow — not  for  a  moment  does  he  relax  his 
vigilance,  since  he  has  become  assured  that  the 
engine-driver  is  a  Carlist  and  may  play  them  a  trick 
yet. 

By  this  time  the  blazing  fire  is  left  far  behind— 
they  are  plunging*  along  through  the  darkness  of 
the  valley,  with  only  the  stars  as  guides,  but  the 
rails  hold  the  iron  horse  on  his  way,  and  all  is  well. 

Every  mile  passed  over  makes  them  so  much  far 
ther  away  from  their  enemies — the  driver  has  made 
up  his  mind  to  the  inevitable,  and  watches  ahead, 
as  is  customary,  while  he  holds  his  hand  on  the 
throttle. 

Looking  back,  Larry  sees  that  the  train  is  intact, 
and  he  breathes  free.  One  thing  alone  gives  him 
worry — this  is  the  uncertainty  as  to  whether  his 
friend  has  come  out  of  the  scrimmage  un wounded. 
He  has  known  all  along  that  a  terrible  battle  must 
have  been  fought  back  there  by  the  barricaded 
coach,  and  with  the  odds  so  tremendous,  it  is  possi 
ble  that  Doctor  Jack  may  have  been  downed. 

He  dares  not  leave  his  post  of  duty  to  find  out  the 
truth,  and  while  the  train  rushes  onward  Larry  re 
mains  in  a  state  of  great  anxiety,  hoping  for  the 
best,  but  fearful. 

Larry  has  an  idea  how  the  land  lies  ahead,  and 
upon  questioning  the  driver  he  finds  lie  is  correct. 
There  is  a  junction  some  ten  miles  farther  on.  where 


D0VTOR  JAtJK.  209 

they  take  a  new  course,  and  head  almost  north,  for 
distant  Bayonne  and  Bordeaux. 

At  this  place  there  will  be  lights,  engines,  people, 
and  the  motor  will  be  changed.  They  are  behind 
time,  but  their  present  speed  will  make  up  what  was 
lost  if  no  accident  occurs. 

So  Larry  must  possess  his  soul  in  patience,  and 
wait — it  will  not  be  for  long.  The  swaying  of  the 
locomotive  is  dreadful  to  one  unaccustomed  to  it, 
and  many  a  time  Larry  is  thrilled  to  the  heart  as  he 
imagines  the  massive  piece  of  mechanism  about  to 
topple  over;  but  mile  after  mile  is  placed  behind, 
and  as  yet  everything  seems  safe. 

On  the  right  he  can  see  the  stars  glimmering  on 
the  bosom  of  the  flowing  Ebro,  and  which  river  they 
must  cross  at  the  junction.  When  he  sees  the  engine- 
driver  raise  his  hand  and  pull  the  whistle-cord,  he 
knows  they  are  approaching  the  place  where  he  can 
be  relieved  from  guard  duty  and  look  up  his  friends. 

Lights  are  shining  ahead  now,  and  it  is  evident 
they  are  nearing  the  point  where  the  trains  meet. 
Their  pace  becomes  slower,  and  at  length  they  come 
to  a  halt.  Signs  of  bustle  abound,  and  Larry  even 
imagines  it  resembles  in  a  degree  an  American  sta 
tion. 

He  leaves  the  driver  to  his  own  devices,  and  leap 
ing  to  the  ground,  hurries  back  along  the  side  of  the 
train,  anxious  to  ascertain  what  has  become  of  bis 
friends.  On  the  way  he  runs  into  some  one  whom  he 
has  not  noticed. 

"  'Pon  'onah!  you  must  pawdon  me.  but — " 
"Larry!    Great  Scott!"  is  shouted  in  his  ear,  and 
he  feels  himself  lifted  bodily  from   the   ground   by 
tke  strong:  arms  of  Doctor   Jmk,  who  is  as  delighted 


HIU  UVUTOR  JAUJL 

to  find  his  friend  as  though  the  duae  were  a  long- 
lost  brother. 

Together  they  walk  to  the  carriage,  where  tin  y 
find  things  in  their  normal  condition,  and  the  two 
ladies  looking  out  of  the  window.  Larry  is  warmly 
greeted  by  both  of  them,  who  look  upon  the  little 
dude  as  a  hero,  although  Avis  can  never  place  him 
in  the  same  class  with  the  man  she  saw  holding  the 
mob  at  bay. 

So  far  as  they  can  foresee,  their  troubles  of  the 
journey  are  now  over.  True,  Don  Carlos  and  the 
pasha  are  probably  on  the  train,  and  Doctor  Jack 
remembers  having  seen  Pedro  Vasquez,  the  mata 
dor,  in  their  company,  but  it  does  not  seem  probable 
that  they  will  be  able  to  do  any  more  mischief  on 
the  roaci  to  Paris,  however  much  they  may  accom 
plish  later. 

Soon  they  are  once  more  on  the  move.  It  is  nearly 
midnight,  and  until  early  dawn  they  will  creep 
northward.  With  the  early  morning  they  may  ex 
pect  to  see  the  green  waters  of  the  magnificent  Bay 
of  Biscay  on  their  left  as  they  advance  upon 
JBayonne. 

The  railroad  approaches  the  coast,  because  in  this 
way  the  great  mountain  wall  of  the  Pyrenees  is 
avoided  in  passing  over  to  France.  Besides,  there 
are  cities  of  considerable  importance  that  need  to  be 
visited. 

When  they  moA^e  on,  the  gentlemen  make  the  la 
dies  comfortable  with  rugs,  having  changed  to 
another  compartment  at  the  junction  because  of  the 
dilapidated  condition  of  the  one  that  had  sustained 
the  attack  of  the  mob — the  guard,  v/ho  1  o>ont?s  to 
Jack,  body  and  soul,  goes  through  to  Pui  is,  it,  seems, 
and  he  looks  after  them. 


DOCTOR  JAQK.  211 

J  ack  manages  to  sleep  some  himself  in  spite  of  the 
jostiiiig  of  the  car,  which  iact  proves  what  a  na 
ture  he  has — few  men  could  calmly  sit  down  and 
to  !•  a  a  nap  after  engaging  in  a  sanguinary  battle 
wil  h  a  desperate  mob,  determined  to  have  his  life. 

Time  slips  by — Jack  is  up  and  down,  now  out  talk 
ing  with  the  guard  at  a  station,  and  more  than  once 
bending  over  to  gently  replace  a  rug  that  has  slipped 
down  from  Avis'  shoulders.  Her  eyes  are  shut,  she 
seems  to  be  asleep,  and  he  stands  a  minute  looking 
into  that  fair  face.  Will  he  ever  have  the  privilege 
of  pressing  a  kiss  upon  that  sweet  mouth.  He  is 
porely  tempted,  but  turns  away  with  a  sigh,  which 
causes  Avis  to  open  her  eyes  and  wonder  what 
worries  Doctor  Jack. 

All  things  must  have  an  end,  and  this  seemingly 
interminable  night  is  no  exception  to  the  general 
rule — light  appears  without,  and  gray  dawn  shows 
them  the  waters  of  the  bay.  In  places  so  close  doea 
the  railway  trend  along  the  shore  that  the  waves*, 
rolling  in  and  lashing  the  little  beach,  seem  directly 
beneath  them. 

Then  they  run  into  the  small  town  of  San  Sebas 
tian,  and  soon  the  sun  rises.  Bayonne  coines  nexu. 
and  our  friends  breathe  a  sigh  of  relief  to  think  they 
have  actually  left  Spain  behind,  and  are  speeding 
along  toward  Bordeaux. 

At  last  they  are  in  a  condition  to  congratulate 
each  other  on  the  success  attending  their  efforts; 
but  the  end  is  not  yet — other  dangers  lie  in  the  fu 
ture,  which  may  be  as  yet  hidden  from  their  view, 
but  are  nevertheless  as  real  as  those  they  have  just 
come  through. 

The  run  to  Paris  is  *»w  no  great  matter,  and  witk 
bright  skiea  above  them  they  pass  through  Bor- 


112  D&VTOR  JAGS. 

deaux,  and  speed  onward  toward  the  gay  French 
capital,  where  every  tourist  eventually  turns,  no 
matter  what  his  object  on  the  Continent.  There  is 
but  one  Paris — it  is  much  the  same  to-day  as  during 
the  last  Napoleon  dynasty,  when  galloping  along 
the  road  to  Ems  with  blindfolded  eyes.  It  seemed  a 
terrible  thing  to  poor  humiliated  France  to  have 
Germany  at  her  door,  and  the  gay  capital  of  the 
world  in  the  hands  of  the  Teutons,  but  looking  back 
to-day,  who  would  have  it  changed,  since  that  de 
feat  was  but  one  of  a  series  of  events,  destined  to 
shake  the  grasp  of  the  Napoleons  from  the  throat  of 
la  belle  France,  and  leave  the  country  in  the  happy 
condition  she  rejoices  in  to-day — a  republic,  with  no 
tyrant  at  her  head. 

It  is  early  in  the  afternoon  when  the  delayed  ex 
press  enters  Paris.  Our  friends  immediately  debark. 
Jack  keeps  a  sharp  eye  around  for  familiar  faces, 
but  those  he  hopes  to  discover  keep  shady,  for  he 
fails  to  discover  them. 

A  carriage  is  hired,  and  they  set  out  for  a  hotel, 
glad  to  be  out  of  Spain,  with  the  many  discomforts 
that  greet  one  there.  It  is  not  their  intenton  to  re 
main  long  in  the  French  capital — duty  beckons  them 
on  toward  the  Orient,  where,  as  they  believe,  poor 
Aleck  Morton  languishes  in  confinement,  a  victim  to 
the  vengeance  of  the  pasha. 

It  is  necessary  that  they  have  a  breathing  spell, 
however,  and  hence  they  determine  to  remain  over 
a  day  or  two  until  Jack  has  a  chance  to  perfect  his 
plans. 

He  knows  the  pasha  is  in  the  city,  keeping  track  of 
them,  and  the  idea  that  the  Turk  will  arrive  in  Con 
stantinople  as  early  as  themselves  gives  him  some 
concern.  If  some  scheme  could  be  devised  to  hold 


DOGTOR  JAGS.  248 

taim  back  one  or  more  days  it  would  give  them  a 
start. 

Doctor  Jack  has  been  considering  this  matter  for 
some  time — it  made  him  sober  while  on  the  train, 
even  atter  all  troubles  seemed  to  have  been  brushed 
aside,  and  ever  since  the  idea  has  remained  with 
him. 

By  degrees  a  plan  has  been  evolved,  and  Doctor 
Jack  becomes  more  sociable,  since  he  has  solved  the 
enigma.  He  spends  the  rest  of  the  day  with  his 
friends,  and  goes  to  the  theater  at  night — Patti  or 
some  song  bird  is  at  the  Grand  Opera  House,  and 
our  friends  enjoy  the  sights  and  sounds  that  greet 
them  here.  / 

It  is  after  midnight  when  they  return  to  the  hotel, 
somewhat  weary.  Doctor  Jack  finds  a  chance  to 
whisper  to  the  driver  in  French : 

"Wait— I  have  further  need  of  your  services." 

The  man  winks  one  eye,  as  though  he  understands 
— he  is  an  old  Jehu,  and  on  manv  an  occasion  has 
taken  the  head  of  a  family  or  the  male  members  of 
a  tourist  party  to  the  Parisian  Mabille  after  the 
regular  performances  at  the  standard  theaters  are 
over. 

Doctor  Jack  sees  his  friends  into  the  hotel,  bids 
them  all  good-night,  and,  as  they  believe,  retires, 
but  he  has  work  to  do  this  night.  Three  minutes 
later  he  emerges  from  the  hotel,  and  comes  upon 
the  driver  pacing  up  and  down.  Jack  can  chatter 
in  French  like  a  native. 

"I  am  ready,  driver,"  entering  the  vehicle. 

"Where  will  monsieur  go?"  asks  the  man,  with  a 
leer,  closing  the  door — the  glass  is  down. 

"To  the  office  of  the  prefect  of  police,"  COTJI^  t!.e 
astounding  answer. 


214  DOCTOR  JACK. 

"  Le  di-able!"  ejaculates  the  Jehu,  stag*,  jfing  back, 
"then  it  is  not  to  the  Mabille  gardens?" 

"You  have  my  orders — drive  on." 

"Oui,  monsieur."  Scrambling  to  his  seat,  his 
mouth  is  in  a  pucker  as  of  a  man  trying  to  whistle, 
but  unable  to  make  a  sound,  until  several  blccks 
have  been  passed  over. 

There  probably  does  not  live  a  Jehu  in  New  York 
who  does  not  know  where  the  mayor's  office  is, 
since  they  get  their  licenses  there.  In  Paris  every 
driver  can  tell  you  exactly  where  the  prefect  of 
police  may  be  found — even  the  daily  habits  of  this 
high  and  mighty  functionary  are  well  known  to 
them. 

Hence  it  is  that  Jack's  driver  has  no  difficulty  in 
taking  his  patron  to  the  building  where  he  will  be 
apt  to  find  the  head  of  the  greatest  police  force  of 
modern  times  at  work — for  Monsieur  le  Prefect  has 
a  holiday  very  seldom,  and  at  certain  hours  is  al 
ways  to  be  found  in  his  office. 

Jack  knows  himself  where  he  is  goi.ig — he  has 
not  spent  weeks  and  even  months  in  Paris  without 
learning  a  few  things,  though  as  yet  it  has  never 
been  his  fortune  to  meet  the  prefect  of  police  save 
in  a  social  way. 

Leaving  his  vehicle  in  a  quiet  street,  he  enters  a 
door — it  belongs  to  no  public  house,  and  is  one  of  the 
private  ways  for  reaching  the  elevated  office  of  the 
head  officer. 

On  the  way  he  passes  two  quiet  men  who  look  at 
him  closely,  and  then  silently  bow.  pointing  onward. 
In  this  manner  he  finally  reaches  an  ante-room, 
where  he  finds  several  officers  gathered — they  look 
like  the  aids  of  a  general  waiting  either  to  deliver 
reports  or  receive  orders,  which  is  really  the  case. 


DOCTOR  JACK.  '215 

One  of  them  steps  forward,  looks  him  in  the  face, 
and  says  .- 

"You  are  Doctor  Evans?" 

"Yes.     I  would  see  the  prefect/'  replies  Jack. 

"He  is  expecting  you — pass  through  yonder  door, 
and  you  will  find  him,"  is  the  astounding  answer 
Doctor  Jack  receives — he  can  hardly  believe  his 
ears,  for  not  to  a  single  soul  has  he  mentioned  his 
intentions  with  regard  to  paying  a  visit  to  this  place 
— surely  the  secret  police  of  Paris  must  have  super 
natural  power  to  be  able  to  read  one's  very  thoughts. 

Filled  with  wonder  and  awe — he  is  not  the  first 
ore  who  has  been  thus  amazed  by  the  power  of 
these  men— Jack  does  as  directed,  opens  a  door,  and 
enters  a  room,  where  he  finds  the  prefect  engaged 
in  writing. 

"One  moment,  Doctor  Jack,"  calls  out  the  officer, 
never  raising  his  eyes  from  his  work,  and  the 
American  has  another  shock. 

His  coming  is  known,  just  as  though  he  were  some 
high  official,  and  his  business  of  a  great  public  im 
portance,  instead  of  a  private  affair,  interesting  to 
few  besides  himself. 

He  watches  the  prefect,  notes  the  high  character 
and  shrewdness  of  the  man  as  indicated  by  his  coun 
tenance,  and  wonders  what  success  he  will  have 
here,  for  the  mission  that  has  taken  Doctor  Jack  to 
the  office  of  the  prefect  of  police  is  something  of  a 
haphazard  one,  and  he  cannot  even  wager  on  the  re 
sult,  but  depends  in  a  great  measure  on  his  luck  to 
take  him  through. 

At  length  the  bell  is  sounded — an  official  enters 
the  room,  and  the  paper  is  handed  to  him  with  a 
few  low  words — the  man  makes  a  military  salute, 
and  is  gone 


216  &04TVR  JACK. 

"Now,  Monsieur  Jack,  I  am  at  liberty  to  pay  at- 
teucion  to  you.  If  I  mistake  not  you  com«  here  to 
tell  me  a  story  and  ask  a  favor." 

''Monsieur,  it  is  apparent  to  me,  from  what  I  have 
seen  and  heard,  that  much  of  my  story  is  already 
known  to  you,"  remarks  Jack,  at  which  the  protect 
smiles  and  answers: 

'•:  )ur  system  is  much  the  same  as  under  the  regime 
of  Napoleon.  V7e  watch  our  borders,  scan  the  pass 
ports  of  all  strangers,  and  make  it  our  business  to 
find  out  who  they  are,  whither  they  came  from,  and 
why  they  enter  France.  The  moment  you  set  foot 
on  French  territory  inquiries  began  to  be  made,  and 
as  a  result  I  know  much  about  you — something  I 
knew  when  you  were  here  before,  but  since  then 
Doctor  Jack  has  seen  strange  things.  I  have  half  an 
hour  to  spare — it  happens  to  be  a  lax  time  with  me. 
If  it  pleases  you,  I  would  like  to  hear  your  story." 

It  does  please  Jack  immensely — he  sees  he  has  a 
splendid  opportunity  to  gain  his  point,  and  anxious 
not  to  lose  it,  begins.  First  of  all  he  tells  of  the  ad 
venture  in  Constantinople,  and  as  all  the  world  loves 
a  lover,  especially  a  Frenchman,  he  soon  sees  that 
Monsieur  le  Prefect  is  interested  in  Aleck  Morton. 

Then  he  skips  to  Paris,  and  relates  the  event  that 
has  had  £O  strong  a  bearing  on  his  late  career  in 
Spain — his  looking  in  upon  a  secret  council  of  Car- 
lists  in  company  with  the  Duke  Arroyo.  After  this 
he  goes  to  the  Pyrenees,  and  tells  of  the  bear  hunt 
in  company  with  Don  Carlos.  Then  comes  the  visit 
to  Barcelona,  the  flower  girl,  struggle  in  the  street, 
and  the  mystery  of  the  nun  who  nursed  him. 

Jack  speaks  modestly  of  hi?  own  share  in  these 
events — he  never  could  be  a  boaster,  and  is  apt  to 


D&&FG&  JACK.  -217 

make  the  description  of  a  scene  too  tame  because  of 
his  extreme  diffidence. 

Rapidly  he  sketched  his  advent  in  Madrid,  the 
meeting1  with  Mercedes,  and  the  bull-fight.  Then 
comes  the  little  affair  in  the  Museo  del  Prado.  a 
mention  of  Avis,  and  the  fact  that  she  is  the  sister 
of  his  friend  Aleck,  in  captivity  among  the  Tm  ks. 
He  lightly  describes  all  that  took  place  in  Ma<i -id, 
and  then  reaches  the  railroad  journej^  toward  Paris, 
dwelling  on  the  heroism  of  Larry,  while  just  men 
tioning  the  fact  that  he  had  a  little  excitement  in 
keeping  back  he  mob  of  Carlists  meanwhile. 

When  he  finishes,  to  his  surprise,  this  wonderful 
French  official,  who  has  the  interests  of  the  whole 
republic  in  his  keeping,  reaches  out  and  shakes 
hands  with  him  most  heartily. 

"Mon  DieuJ  I  love  such  a  man  as  you,  Doctor  Jack 
— you  are  brave,  and  you  would  conceal  it.  Better 
and  better — the  brave  are  always  modest.  But  you 
cannot  expect  to  keep  this  light  hidden  under  a 
bushel.  Our  Parisian  papers  published  a  long  ac 
count  of  the  grand  bull-fight,  telling  all  the  particu 
lars  of  your  heroism.  Ah !  my  good  man,  Doctor 
Jack  for  twenty -four  hours  was  the  hero  of  Paris — 
every  American  was  proud  that  you  belonged  to 
New  York.  As  for  the  little  affair  beyond  Logrono 
— I  have  had  a  full  account  of  it  from  a  secret 
agent  who  was  in  the  next  compartment  to  yours, 
and  I  am  proud  to  know  the  man  who  performed 
such  prodigies  of  valor  during  that  night." 

Jack  turns  very  red  in  the  face — he  knows  the 
prefect  not  only  has  a  comprehensive  idea  cf  the 
past,  but  must  guess  his  secret  of  the  future — even 
his  love  for  Avis.  He  keeps  in  mind  what  has 


218  DOCTOR  JACK 

brought  him  here — does  the  wonderful  official  know 
this? 

"Monsieur,  I  came  here  to  ask  a  favor,"  he  says, 
and,  as  he  expects,  the  other  smiles. 

"I  can  guess  it,  Doctor  Jack.  You  would  have  me 
assist  you  by  detaining  the  pasha." 

"I  may  be  asking  too  much — "  begins  Jack,  when 
the  other  interrupts  him. 

"Asa  man,  I  would  assist  you  with  every  pleas 
ure  in  the  world — as  the  prefect  of  police  in  the  city 
of  Paris,  I  must  be  more  cautious.  True,  France  and 
America,  sister  republics,  are  joined  hand  in  hand 
in  ties  that  I  trust  shall  never  be  broken  ;  but  we  are 
also  at  peace  with  Turkey,  and  it  would  be  a  serious 
matter  to  offend  officially  one  so  high  in  authority  as 
Abdallah  Pasha — complications  have  arisen  from 
even  a  smaller  thing  than  that,  which  have  threat 
ened  the  peace  of  all  Kurope." 

"Not  for  the  world  would  I  cause  you  troul^e, 
Monsieur  le  Prefect.  I  was  foolish  to  think  you 
could  give  me  assistance,  not  that  I  shall  ever  doubt 
your  goodness  of  heart,  but  I  see  now  more  clearly 
that  you  have  an  official  character  to  sustain." 

Doctor  Jack  reaches  out  his  hand  for  his  hat,  as  if 
to  go,  when  the  other  lays  a  finger  on  his  arm,  looks 
into  his  face,  and  says: 

"Patience,  Doctor  Jack.  I  have  still  ten  minutes 
left,  and  we  may  find  a  way  out  of  this  trouble  yet." 


JACR,  219 


CHAPTER  XVIT1. 

OFF   FOR   THE   ORIENT. 

His  words  give  the  American  new  hope,  and  he 
once  more  settles  down  to  listen  to  this  man  who 
wan  help  him  so  much. 

"How  long  would  you  have  the  pasha  detained?" 
asks  the  Frenchman. 

"One  day  would  be  good — two  better,"  is  the  quick 
reply  of  Doctor  Jack. 

"We  shall  see.  I  have  a  plan  whereby  I  think  it 
ran  be  done,  without  committing  any  official  act 
which  could  be  reported  to  his  government.  He 
might  fall  into  the  power  of  a  secret  clique  that  has 
icng  defied  our  most  careful  scrutiny.  They  have 
even  held  one  or  two  men  for  ransom,  and  received 
it,  too,  right  here  in  Paris." 

"It  seems  incredible,"  gasps  Jack — the  power  of 
the  police  has  appeared  so  tremendous  to  him  that 
he  cannot  conceive  of  any  men  defying  their  utmost 
endeavors,  and  working  such  a  game  even  in  the 
heart  of  the  French  capital. 

"Nevertheless  it  is  true.  Only  lately  we  discovered 
that  the  gang  had  its  headquarters — where  do  you 
think? — in  the  catacomb  sewers  under  the  city.  We 
have  broken  them  up,  but  still  factions  might  and 
probably  do  exist.  Now,  it  would  not  be  strange  for 
some  of  these  men  to  capture  Abdallah  Pasha,  con 
vey  him  to  a  hiding-place  in  the  sewers,  and  hold  him 
there  for  ransom  several  days." 

Jack  grasps  the  idea  instantly,  and  the  look  on 
his  face  shows  his  pleasure. 


220  DOCTOK  JACK 

"You  will  put  me  into  communication  with  the 
man  "who  will  arrange  this?"  he  cries. 

"Immediately.  You  will  find  him  in  the  room  that 
door  leads  to.  Tell  him  just  what  you  want  done, 
and  leave  some  money  in  his  bands  to  pay  his  men 
for  their  trouble.  As  for  myself,  you  understand  I 
am  to  know  nothing  about  the  matter.  Monsieur 
Duprez  will  do  all  you  ask  him  when  you  give  this 
sign  from  me."  Here  the  officer  takes  Jack's  hand, 
and  as  he  presses  it  allows  one  finger  to  rest  on  the 
other's  wrist — it  is  a  secret  grip,  and  possesses  a  sig 
nificance. 

"A  thousand  thanks — I  will  never  forget  your 
kindness,"  murmurs  the  American,  rising. 

"I  have  done  nothing— you  must  not  even  think 
otherwise.  But  I  admire  a  brave  man  always,"  re 
plies  the  other. 

Doctor  Jack  comprehends  exactly  what  this  is  in 
tended  to  convey — he  salutes  the  prefect,  and  moves 
toward  the  door  indicated.  Opening  this,  he  finds 
himself  in  another  room,  where  a  little  man,  with  a 
face  very  much  like  that  of  the  first  Napoleon, 
strides  up  and  down,  his  hands  behind  his  back. 

He  nods  pleasantly  to  the  American,  who  does  not 
forget  to  advance  and  shake  hands  with  him,  in  or 
der  that  he  may  make  use  of  the  secret  grip,  which 
is  warmly  returned. 

"You  know  who  Abdallah  Pasha  is,  and  where  he 
stops  at  Paris?"  Jack  strikes  from  the  shoulder,  as 
is  generally  his  way. 

"Yes,  Monsieur  Evans.  The  Turk  has  purchased 
tickets  for  the  morning  train — he  means  to  leave 
Paris  on  the  nine-twenty,"  returns  the  little  man 
with  the  smooth  face. 

"The   duse!    he   would   steal   a    march    on   me. 


B9GTOR  JAOK.  221 

Whatever  is  done  to  detain  him,  then,  must  be  car- 
rJ<*I  out  in  the  next  few  hours." 

"You  speak  truly — what  is  your  wish?" 

"To  have  him  kept  in  Paris  two  days — three  if  it 
be  possible.  That  will  give  us  a  fair  start — he  can 
not  overtake  us." 

"Have  you  any  plan,  monsieur?" 

"Yes,  and  a  good  one,  too,  thanks  to — "  the  other 
frowns  warningly,  and  Jack  adds — "the  inventive 
powers  of  the  human  brain." 

He  proceeds  to  tell  Monsieur  Duprez  about  the  se 
cret  clique  that  has  long  baffled  the  police  of  Paris, 
and  the  other  listens  quietly,  just  as  if  he  has  not 
lain  awake  many  a  night  endeavoring  to  concoct 
ways  and  means  of  discovering  where  this  gang  held 
forth. 

All  is  soon  arranged — Monsieur  Duprez  is  guarded 
in  his  promises,  but  Jack  has  faith  in  the  man,  and 
knows  he  will  do  even  more  than  he  says,  so  he 
hands  over  a  comfortable  roll  of  bills,  and  bids  the 
other  good-night. 

"This  way,  please — we  will  not  disturb  Monsieur 
le  Prefect  again — he  is  probably  busy,"  and  the 
sub-lieutenant  opens  a  door,  shows  Jack  a  flight  of 
steps,  at  the  bottom  of  which  is  a  door,  and  this,  as 
he  opens  it,  takes  him  to  the  street. 

All  that  has  happened  in  the  last  half  hour  has 
seemed  like  a  dream — he  looks  up  at  the  somber 
houses  as  though  he  can  hardly  believe  his  senses, 
but  not  ten  yards  away  is  the  vehicle  that  brought 
him  here. 

Jack  laughs  softly  to  himself  at  the  success  of  his 
midnight  venture,  and  walks  toward  the  carriage — 
he  has  done  his  part  well,  and  there  is  little  reason 
to  believe  those  who  have  been  intrusted  with  the 


JAl'Ai. 

rest  will  fail  in  their  mission.  Nearly  five  hours  still 
remain  before  morning,  and  great  things  can  be 
done  in  that  time. 

Reaching  the  vehicle,  he  finds  his  man  inside  fast 
asleep,  but  he  is  soon  aroused,  and  mounts  his  box, 
wondering,  of  course,  what  the  American  traveler 
can  have  in  common  with  the  prefect  of  police  that 
be  should  visit  that  high  functionary  at  such  an 
bour. 

<So  Jack  finally  reaches  his  hotel  again,  and  re 
tires  to  snatch  a  few  hours'  sleep — he  expects  to  be 
•n  the  road  with  the  morning,  and  after  that  rest 
will  be  a  stranger  to  him  most  of  the  time. 

In  his  portmanteau  he  has  a  diminutive  clock, 
which  he  carries  with  him  always.  The  alarm  he 
«ets  for  seven,  as  he  desires  to  get  the  others  up, 
and  everything  ready.  It  was  the  intention  of  the 
pasha  to  take  the  nine-twenty  express  out  of  Paris- 
Jack  and  his  party  will  board  the  train  early,  with 
a  double  object  in  view,  the  first  part  of  which  is 
the  fact  that  they  cannot  leave  Paris  earlier,  and 
then  again  it  will  be  easy  to  learn  whether  the  trap 
has  been  sprung.  If  Abdallah  Pasha  does  not  show 
up  at  the  station  for  that  train,  Jack  is  ready  to  ac 
cept  the  matter  as  settled  that  the  Turk  is  at  that 
moment  held  in  durance  vile  by  a  remnant  of  the 
once  famous  catacomb  clique,  who  demand  for  his 
release  a  heavy  ransom,  and  will  be  in  no  great 
hurry  to  collect  it,  possibly  giving  him  a  chance  to 
escape  after  several  days. 

Jack  throws  himself  on  the  bed  only  partially  dis 
robed,  and  in  three  minutes  is  fast  asleep — such  is 
the  severe  strain  that  has  been  of  late  upon  his  ner 
vous  system  that  he  tosses  about  considerably,  but 
does  not  once  awaken  until  the  faithful  little  clock. 


JACK.  '*& 

placed  close  to  his  head,  rings  out  its  silvery  sum 
mons. 

At  the  first  note  of  alarm  Jack  sits  up,  rubs  his 
eyes,  notes  the  time,  for  the  gas,  though  turned  low, 
has  been  kept  burning,  and  then  stretching,  pro 
ceeds  to  dash  some  cold  water  in  his  face  to  chase 
the  drowsiness  away. 

Upon  raising  the  curtain  a  little  later  he  finds  it  in 
broad  daylight.  The  sun  has  failed  to  show  himself, 
as  clouds  hang  low,  threatening  a  deluge  at  any  mo 
ment. 

When  Jack  has  dressed  and  completed  his  pack* 
ing,  Iiis  next  move  is  to  arouse  the  others. 

A  few  words  with  Larry  is  enough  to  let  him 
know  what  the  game  is,  and  in  turn  he  communi 
cates  it  to  the  ladies,  who  have  the  room  adjoining 
his,  with  a  door  between. 

Meanwhile  Doctor  Jack  goes  below,  and  hires  as 
vehicle  to  take  them  all  to  the  station  in  good  tim« 
for  the  nine-twenty  train  east. 

Then   he  waits  around  until   Larry  appears,   of 
course  inquisitive  concerning  the  reason  of  this  ui» 
expected  move,  for  when  they  separated  on  the  pre 
ceding  night  there  was  nothing  said  about  leaving 
Paris  in  the  morning. 

Jack  soon  tells  the  story,  and  is  complimented  by 
the  dude  on  his  forethought — he  does  not  even  smile 
while  Larry  speaks,  although  chuckling  inwardly 
at  the  queer  conceit. 

Then  the  ladies  appear,  and  Jack  is  dazzled  by  the 
bright  smile  of  Avis  Morton.  How  bewitching  she 
looks — no  wonder  the  Turk  has  been  smitten  by  such 
a  bright  face  and  beautiful  figure — Jack  feels  as 
tbonofh  he  himsolf  would  go  through  fire  and  flood 
ii!  ;•;  <ier  to  win  her. 


As  the  Turk  comes  into  mind,  he  wonders  how  the 
plan  succeeded,  and  what  that  worthy  thinks  by 
this  time  of  his  subterranean  quarters — for  Jack 
never  dreams  that  the  plans  of  Monsieur  the  Sub 
lieutenant  could  go  astray,  or  that  Abdallah  Pasha 
can  be  any  where  than  in  the  net. 

They  go  in  to  breakfast,  which  can  be  gotten  at 
almost  any  hour.  Over  the  table  they  dally  nearly 
an  hour,  since  time  must  elapse  ere  they  can  go  to 
the  station.  Jack  does  not  fail  to  note  how  well  Avis 
graces  the  end  of  the  table,  and  handles  the  coffee 
urn  with  such  skill  that  he  pictures  to  himself — poor 
fellow,  it  shows  how  badly  he  is  caught  at  last — that 
same  graceful  figure  seated  at  the  table  in  an  es 
tablishment  owned  by  a  certain  Jack  Evans,  called 
a  doctor  by  his  friends  because  he  graduated  as 
such  and  practiced  in  the  hospitals  of  Germany. 
Somehow,  the  thought  of  such  a  possible  happiness 
in  the  future  makes  him  smile,  and  she,  noticing  his 
glance,  turns  rosy  red,  just  as  though  she  imagines 
he  is  reading  guilty  secrets  in  her  face. 

At  length  breakfast  ends — it  is  after  eight  and  the 
carriage  awaits  them  at  the  door.  Jack  has  given 
orders — the  luggage  is  already  down,  so  that  all  they 
have  to  do  is  to  put  on  their  outside  wraps  and  leave 
the  hotel. 

Avis  has  become  grave — she  seldom  smiles  now, 
for  there  is  a  weight  upon  her  mind.  In  leaving  gay 
Paris  she  remembers  the  danger  that  lies  ahead— 
their  mission  must  occupy  all  thought  now  to  the  ex 
clusion  of  everything  else. 

The  lide  to  the  station  is  almost  a  silent  one — out 
side  the  rain  patters  down — then  the  sun  breaks  out, 
to  b«  followed  by  another  shower — it  is  just  such  an 


DOCTOR  JAOK.  226 

April  weather  day  as  we  are  accustomed  to  here, 
and  yet  the  winter  has  hardly  flown. 

It  is  early  yet — Doctor  Jack  has  come  Ions:  before 
the  scheduled  time  for  the  train  to  leave  in  order  to 
ascertain  the  truth  about  the  pasha.  He  walks  up 
and  down  the  platform  smoking — Avis  remembers 
the  scene  in  Madrid,  where  he  did  exactly  the  same 
thing,  and  hopes  they  will  not  have  the  same  trouble 
en  route  that  came  to  them  in  Spain. 

Watching  closely,  Jack  fails  to  discover  anything 
of  the  party  for  whom  he  looks — the  pasha  has  not 
turned  up.  Nearer  comes  the  time  for  starting,  and 
still  there  are  no  signs  of  the  Turk. 

No  wonder  Avis'  eyes  follow  him  as  he  walks 
up  and  down  the  platform.  There  is  nothing  of  false 
pride  in  his  manner,  no  strut  such  as  a  vain  ma» 
might  show,  but  for  all  he  has  a  firm,  manly  car 
riage,  that  indicates  self  reliance  and  independence. 

She  is  proud  of  him,  and  exceedingly  glad  to  re 
member  that  he  is  her  friend — that  he  has  devoted 
himself  to  her  cause.  She  has  such  confidence  in 
Doctor  Jack  that  it  seems  impossible  any  enterprisa 
can  fail  which  he  backs  with  his  indomitable  will 
power.  The  man  who  conquered  the  black  toro,  and 
defeated  the  plots  of  the  scheming  Carlists,  must 
surely  be  a  master  in  the  game  now  before  them, 
and  will  discover  some  means  whereby  Aleck  may 
be  rescued  from  his  awful  position. 

Then  she  remembers  how  she  saw  the  disguised 
Mercedes  approach  him.  Will  she  still  follow,  or  is 
the  game  to  be  dropped  at  Paris?  Unconsciously 
she,  too,  begins  to  glance  beyond,  and  survey  the 
people  who  pass  in  review,  but  she  is  not  looking  for 
the  same  party  as  Jack — he  seeks  the  red  fez  and 
bronzed  face  of  the  Turk,  while  Avis  is  endeavoring 


226  DOCTOR  JACK. 

to  discover,  under  some  disguise,  the  most  dazzling 
black  eyes  she  ever  met.  Not  that  she  is  jealous  of 
Jack — she  believes  every  word  he  has  told  her  with 
regard  to  Mercedes,  ana  yet  somehow  Avis  feels  that 
the  Spanish  woman  does  not  mean  to  give  up  the 
game  yet. 

More  time  passes — she  wishes  the  gong  would 
sound,  and  Jack  climb  into  the  carriage.  When  tl  s 
occurs  she  will  feel  better  satisfied — as  though  he 
really  belonged  to  her.  As  it  is,  Avis  is  in  a  con 
tinual  nervous  state  lest  something  should  occur  to 
prevent  his  going  with  them — a  number  of  things 
seem  to  flash  into  her  mind — a  telegram  may  lie 
handed  him  requiring  his  attention  on  some  grave 
business  matter,  or  perhaps  the  crafty  pasha  may 
prefer  a  charge  against  him,  and  the  police  arrest 
the  American  just  before  the  train  moves  out.  These 
things  may  seem  foolish,  but  they  are  one  and  all 
within  the  range  of  possibility,  and  in  lier  present 
frame  of  mind  Avis  can  invest  each  with  an  air  of 
truth. 

So  she  holds  her  watch  in  her  hand  and  c;ists 
many  an  anxious  look  upon  it.  Evidently  Jack  is 
preoccupied  with  his  thoughts,  for  he  passes  the 
window  a  number  of  times  without  looking  up  to 
meet  her  eyes. 

Finally  he  does  so,  and  smiles  in  return  for  the 
look  she  wafts  him.  He  draws  near,  and  Avis  lowers 
the  sash  to  speak. 

"Is  it  not  nearly  time,  -doctor  ?"  she  asks. 

"Two  minutes  more.  I  think  we  will  start  out  on 
time,  which  is  a  good  beginning.  See  how  they  toss 
the  luggage  into  the  van.  We  can't  say  much  worse 
of  our  baggage-smashers  at  home.  There  comes  the 
man  in  charge  of  the  train — note  the  proud  step— 


227 

Jove,  a  little  authority  makes  fools  of  some  men.  A 
conductor  on  our  side  of  the  big  pond  attempting 
such  dignity  would  be  unmercifully  guyed,  I  tell 
you." 

Avis  herself  has  to  laugh  at  the  pompous  French 
man — she  sees  he  is  the  Grand  Mogul — guards  cringa 
before  him,  and  scowl  behind  his  back.  Jack  has  al 
ready  bought  up  the  fellow  with  whom  they  will 
deal,  and  as  the  compartment  has  its  allotted  quar~ 
tette,  there  is  no  danger  of  their  privacy  being  in 
truded  upon,  which  is  the  main  cause  for  dissatisfac 
tion  with  the  European  method  of  traveling  first* 
class — you  must  either  pay  for  the  entire  compart 
ment  or  have  disagreeable  fellow  passengers  thrust 
in  with  you,  unless  wise  enough  to  tip  the  guard 
heavily. 

The  rush  now  becomes  a  scramble,  as  belated 
travelers  seek  to  get  their  tickets,  look  after  lug 
gage,  and  find  accommodations.  Many  ludicrous 
scenes  are  always  occurring  at  a  time  like  this,  and 
although  it  seems  in  a  measure  heartless  to  laugh 
those  who  have  a  keen  sense  of  the  ridiculous  can 
not  avoid  smiling  at  the  odd  pictures  presented. 

As  the  critical  moment  draws  nearer  the  excite 
ment  increases — its  equal  cannot  be  found  on  the 
globe,  for  in  the  main  these  people  are  excitable 
Frenchmen,  and  even  the  commonplaces  of  life  are 
rendered  with  dramatic  fervor  by  the  Gaul. 

The  magnate  sweeps  his  electric  gaze  up  and  down 
the  station,  glances  at  his  watch,  gives  one  more 
look  around  to  see  that  all  eyes  are  upon  him,  holds 
his  arm  suspended  in  mid  air  for  just  ten  seconds, 
then,  describing  a  grand  parabolic  sweep,  it  de 
scends,  the  clang  of  a  gong  is  heard,  the  guards  cry 
".'>!!  aboard"  in  French,  and  the-re  is  one  last  s 


228  iKOTOS  SACS. 

modic  effort  on  the  part  of  the  delinquents  to  gain 
Borne  carriage. 

Doctor  Jack  smiles — he  has  reason  to  feel  satisfied, 
for  not  a  trace  of  the  pasha  has  he  seen,  which  in 
itself  is  evidence  that  the  Turk  has  fallen  into  the 
hands  of  the  enemy. 

He  tosses  away  his  cigar,  and  turns  to  enter  the 
carriage,  when  a  hand  is  laid  on  his  arm.  Avis 
gives  a  gasp  of  alarm  as  she  sees  a  tall  Frenchman 
in  citizen's  garb  thus  prevent  the  American  from 
entering — she  believes  her  worst  fears  are  about  to 
be  realized,  and  that  Doctor  Jack  will  be  dragged 
off  to  jail  on  some  trumped  up  charge— anything  in, 
order  to  separate  him  from  the  rest. 

To  her  satisfaction,  however,  while  she  clutches 
the  ledge  of  the  window,  and  holds  her  breath  to 
catch  what  is  said,  she  hears  in  French : 

"Doctor  Jack  Evans,  I  believe?" 

"Correct — you  have — " 

"This,"  and  thrusting  a  paper  into  Jack's  hand 
the  tall  Frenchman  strides  away. 

There  is  no  time  to  lose,  and  Doctor  Jack  enters 
the  carriage — the  train  moves  out  of  the  station,  and 
presently  they  are  sweeping  through  the  outskirts  of 
the  great  French  capital. 

Although  suspecting  what  the  message  is,  Jack 
glances  at  it  eagerly — the  writing  is  French,  but  he 
reads  it  like  a  native.  No  name  is  signed — he  needs 
none: 

"The  pasha  will  noi  leave  Paris  to-day — he  has 
changed  his  mind,  and  is  paying  a  visit  to  under 
ground  Paris,  which  charms  him  so  much  he  may 
desire  to  spend  several  days  in  exploring  the  myster 
ies  described  by  Victor  Hugo.  Send  your  address- 
may  warn  you  of  his  flitting." 


:OOK     ikOUR. 


THE  MEETING  IN  CONSTANTINOPLE. 


,i  JAVtL  281 


CHAPTER 

STAMBOUL,    THE   MAGNIFICENT. 

There  are  no  secrets  between  the  devoted  quar 
tette  now*— even  Madame  Sophie  is  interested  in 
effecting  the  release  of  Aleck  Morton,  her  favorite 
nephew,  so  Doctor  Jack  shows  them  the  note,  and 
they  laugh  over  the  lovely  situation  the  Turk  finds 
himself  in  this  early  spring  morning.  How  he  must 
fume  and  fret  at  the  detention  just  at  tjhis  time  when 
time  is  of  so  much  value  to  him.  Perhaps  a  glimmer 
of  the  truth  may  creep  into  his  brain,  and  if  so  his 
state  of  mind  will  certainly  be  anything  but  im 
proved  by  the  consciousness  that  his  crafty  enemy 
has  outwitted  him  again. 

"What  is  our  course?"  asks  Larry,  who  has  fallen 
back  upon  the  cushions,  and  seems  to  be  taking  life 
easy — indeed,  the  little  man  has  a  way  of  doing  this 
quite  his  own. 

"We  shall  take  the  most  direct  line  now  open — 
there  has  been  an  unfortunate  series  of  accidents 
happening  lately  that  temporarily  closes  several 
routes.  To  reach  Vienna,  and  then  Buda-Pesth,  we 
must  pass  through  Baden  and  other  portions  of 
Germany.  Wait,  I  will  try  and  mark  our  course  on 
this  guide-book  map.'' 

So  Jack  busies  himself,  while  Avis  leans  over  his 
shoulder  -looking  on  and  offering  suggestions  now 
and  then.  A  very  pretty  picture,  Larry  thinks,  as 
he  watches  them  through  his  half  closed  eyes,  and  it 
would  be  a  shame  for  any  man  to  ever  come  between 
two  who  seem  to  be  so  mutually  smitten — BO  he 


232  DOCTOR  JAGR. 

nobly  resolves  to  give  up  his  own  chances  in  the 
affair,  and  let  Jack  have  a  clear  field — a  resolution 
that  does  him  credit  under  the  circumstances,  seeing 
that  he  has  three  times  asked  Avis  to  have  him, 
and  on  each  occasion  sent  the  New  York  girl  off  into 
a  spasm  of  laughing,  for  which  she  has  always 
apologized,  though  declining  to  enter  into  any  part 
nership  arrangement  with  a  cousin. 

They  are  making  good  time,  and  before  the  day 
ends  stop  at  a  station  on  the  border,  where  a  cus 
toms  official  makes  a  pretense  of  searching  their 
luggage,  receives  his  tip,  glances  at  their  passports, 
and  they  are  free  to  enter  Germany. 

It  is  long  after  darkness  sets  in  that  they  cross  the 
historic  Rhine,  and  feel  they  are  in  the  heart  of 
the  German  empire.  Now  and  then  the  gentlemen 
step  out  at  the  stations  to  stretch  their  limbs  and 
smoke.  The  night  passes  away.  Once  there  seems 
a  long  delay,  and  Jack  fears  lest  this,  the  last 
method  of  reaching  Vienna,  may  be  closed  to  them, 
as  there  has  been  an  accident  ahead.  In  case  it  is  it- 
landslide,  that  may  be  hours  and  days  in  being 
cleared  up,  he  soon  makes  up  his  mind  what  they 
will  do. 

In  Europe  money  will  accomplish  wonders,  eveit 
as  in  our  own  country,  and  in  the  morning  they 
may  find  a  conveyance  of  some  sort  that  will  take 
them  beyond  the  obstruction,  where  they  can  find 
a  train. 

Should  this  fail,  one  more  course  remains — to  pass 
down  through  th^  St.  Gothard  tunnel  into  Italy, 
reaching  Venice  on  the  Adriatic,  and  there  taking  a 
steamer  for  Constantinople. 

Thus  Jack  lays  his  plans  and  goes  to  sleep-  he  is 
awakened  by  a  jarring  motion,  and  finds  they  are 


B9GTOX  JAUJL  zas 

on  the  move  again.  Good !  only  an  hour  or  go  has 
been  lost. 

Morning  finds  them  at  Munich,  and  if  all  goes 
well  they  should  reach  Vienna  some  time  before  the 
sun  goes  down  in  the  west.  Breakfast  is  eaten 
here,  time  being  given  the  travelers.  Avis  looks  a 
little  jaded,  but  she  seems  to  stand  the  rack  of 
travel  upon  a  Continental  railway  wonderfully  well, 
Jack  thinks,  as  he  helps  her  back  into  the  carriage. 
Again  they  are  off,  over  the  Inn  River,  and  along  its 
bank,  until  finally  another  official  appears.  It  is  at 
Simbach,  and  they  are  now  on  the  border  of  Aus 
trian  territory.  Travelers  in  Europe  grow  accus 
tomed  to  these  things,  but  they  are  a  terrible  nuis 
ance,  and  we  neve  realize  what  this  business  is  like 
in  the  States  until  we  have  a  yellow  fever  epidemic 
like  the  one  at  Jacksonville,  Florida,  in  the  summer 
of  1888. 

Vienna  at  last,  and  all  well.  They  are  obliged  to 
remain  over  night  in  the  Austrian  capital,  as  there 
is  no  train  until  morning.  True,  they  might  take 
one  of  the  boats  down  the  Danube,  but  this  would 
be  slow  work,  indeed. 

"Where  shall  we  go?"  asks  Aunt  Sophie,  as  they 
roll  into  the  station,  and  see  the  omnibuses  and  cabs 
waiting  in  line  just  as  in  New  York. 

"There  is  only  one  hotel  here  to  my  mnid.  That 
is  called  the  Englischer  Hof,"  declares  Jack. 

"Ah!  you  have  been  here  before,"  cries  Avis, 
"we  shall  benefit  by  your  knowledge." 

And  they  do. 

Jack  secures  what  information  he  desires  to  begin 
with,  engages  a  carriage,  and  in  a  short  time  they 
have  entered  the  city,  and  are  in  the  pleasant  rooms 
of  the  hotel.  Evening  is  near  at  hand,  but  after  en- 


JA&L 

joying  the  luxury  of  a  little  fresh  water,  the  party 
start  out  to  view  the  crowds  on  the  Ringstrasse 
near  by. 

One  can  spend  most  of  his  time  in  Vienna  on  the 
streets  or  in  the  cafes — it  is  amusing  to  study  the 
characters  to  be  met  upon  the  streets  of  the  great 
city,  for  Austria  is  made  up  of  a  dozen  small  nation 
alities,  from  Hungarians  and  Germans  to  Poles  and 
Scr\  ians. 

They  might  at  any  other  time  have  gone  to  the 
opera  in  the  evening,  for  Vienna  is  a  second  Paris, 
and  her  inhabitants  must  always  have  numerous 
amusements  going  on — each  strasse,  especially  if  a 
boulevard,  seems  to  be  thronged  all  day  long — 
music  sounds  from  every  quarter,  and  one  soon  gets 
an  idea  that  the  Viennese  are  a  lively  people,  and 
the  city  one  of  the  finest  in  Europe. 

In  the  morning  they  leave  Vienna,  and  once  more 
their  course  is  southeast.  A  long  journey  still  lies 
before  them,  and  at  the  end  of  it  is  the  Turkish  rjty, 
where  they  expect  to  find  the  prisoner  of  Abd  Jlah 
Pasha. 

Buda-Pesth  is  reached  by  noon,  and  to  thei>  sur 
prise  they  find  a  magnificent  city  on  both  sid  ss  of 
the  Danube,  connected  by  a  splendid  bridge,  Bucla 
being  on  one  shore  and  Pesth  on  the  other. 

During  the  afternoon  they  pass  near  the  bolder  of 
ServJa,  but  night  still  finds  them  in  Aastria. 
Another  examination  of  passes — this  time  it  is.  by  the 
Turkish  officials  sure  enough.  They  make  si-.  >w  pro 
gress  now,  for  a  lightning  express  in  Turke}  would 
be  such  a  novelty  that  the  Sultan's  people  might  ex 
pire  from  fright. 

The  wearisome  journey  draws  near  an  *.nd.  and 
wir.li  the  morning  they  find  themselves  close  to 


XWtTttfi 

their  goal,  Great  inroads  have  been  made  in  the 
old  time  habits  of  the  Turks  by  the  progress  of  civil 
ization  pushing  eastward.  The  advent  of  the  rail 
road  has  changed  many  of  their  customs,  and  some 
of  the  most  intelligent  among  the  officials  would  fol 
low  after  the  ways  of  their  Western  neighbors  if  the 
mass  of  people  were  not  so  settled  in  their  old 
dogmas. 

Gradually  the  Turk  is  being  pushed  out  of  Europe 
— many  of  his  fairest  provinces  have  been  taken 
away  and  made  into  new  states  that,  forming  a 
coalition,  will  put  a  nation  between  Austria  and  the 
Black  Sea. 

Some  day  there  will  be  an  upheaval,  and  Mr.  Turk 
will  cross  the  Bosphorus  in  a  hurry,  to  return  no 
more,  when  Constantinople,  taken  originally  by 
force,  will  revert  to  new  owners.  The  Turk  is  noth 
ing  if  not  philosophical,  and  when  this  dreadful  day 
of  disaster  comes  he  will  probably  say,  resignedly : 
"Kismet!  Allah  is  Allah,  and  Mohammed  is  his 
prophet." 

At  a  quarter  to  ten  Jack  calls  their  attention  to  a 
sight  that  inspires  them  into  a  burst  of  enthusiasm. 
The  sun  has  climbed  half  way  up  in  the  heavens, 
and  as  they  chance  to  be  upon  an  elevation  where 
they  can  see  the  blue  waters  of  the  Bosphorus,  be 
fore  their  vision  comes  a  glimpse  of  Constantinople. 
Never,  while  they  live,  will  they  forget  that  first 
view  of  the  Oriental  city.  It  seems  like  the  phantasy 
of  a  dream,  with  the  golden  sunlight  flashing  from 
numerous  domes  and  minarets,  marking  the 
rnosques,  of  which  there  are  several  hundred  in 
Stamboul — as  the  natives  call  the  city. 

Soon  the  train  reaches  the  station.  Jack  having 
b«en  b^re  before,  knows  the  ropes,  and  pilots  his 


party  by  means  of  what  seems  to  be  an  undergrotiB-a 
railway  into  the  city  proper. 

Here  they  emerge,  and  find  themselves  in  Stam- 
boul — around  them  are  the  thousand  and  one  strange 
sights  that  greet  the  traveler  in  Turkey  to-day. 

Jack  takes  them  to  a  house — here  he  finds  an  old 
friend  with  whom  Aleck  and  himself  lodged  on  the 
former  occasion,  and  who  now  receives  him  warmly. 

Hotels  are  almost  an  unknown  luxury  in  Turkey, 
and  what  inns  there  are  European  visitors  avoid  as 
a  general  thing,  seeking  some  private  house  to  which 
they  have  been  referred  by  friends  who  have  been 
here  before. 

Avis  watches  Jack  closely — she  realizes  that  every, 
thing  depends  on  him,  and  does  not  desire  to  divert 
his  mind  from  the  business  on  hand.  She  believes 
he  will  succeed,  but  the  position  is  grave,  and  noth 
ing  must  occur  to  annoy  him. 

As  for  Larry,  he  is  in  for  seeing  the  sights,  and 
without  any  loss  of  time  proceeds  to  take  them  in, 
wandering  about  the  crooked  streets  under  the  care 
of  a  man  he  has  engaged,  whose  ordinary  business 
is  that  of  a  hamal,  or  porter,  but  who  nevertheless 
makes  a  good  guide. 

One  can  spend  weeks  in  Stamboul  sight  seeing — 
the  mosques,  almost  always  crowded,  are  a  daily 
spectacle — then  there  are  other  things  upon  the 
streets  to  attract  attention,  such  as  the  bazars,  with 
their  glass  roofs,  where  the  Turkish  tradesmen  offer 
for  sale  the  strangest  things  one  can  imagine — 
where  are  crowded  in  their  stalls,  elbow  to  elbow, 
men  who  carry  on  everv  business  known  to  the 
Orient,  and  the  display  of  goods  is  so  varied,  rang 
ing  from  the  jeweler  and  seller  of  henna,  down  to 
the  maker  of  the  national  headgear,  the  fez,  that 


JA^K.  237 

one  can  easily  imagine  himself  in  an  enchanted 
land. 

Yes,  Constantinople  is  a  splendid  lounging  place, 
to  pass  away  a  montth — new  sights  can  be  seen 
every  day,  and  one  does  not  even  grow  weary  of  the 
old  ones. 

Jack  Evans  has  not  come  here  for  such  a  purpose, 
however — no  man  has  a  greater  weisrht  on  his  mind 
than  he.  Somehow  he  has  reached  the  conclusion 
that  his  own  fate  depends  upon  his  success  in  this 
game — that  if  he  saves  Aleck  he  wins  his  sister,  and, 
indeed,  remembering  the  desperate  nature  of  the 
work  before  him,  it  is  not  out  of  the  way  to  believe 
that  he  must  rescue  Aleck  or  lose  his  own  life  in  the 
attempt. 

Having  seen  the  ladies  safe  in  the  house,  Jack 
gives  them  a  few  directions,  and  then  sets  out  to 
make  arrangements.  Most  tourists  when  visiting 
the  Turkish  capital  lodge  at  Pera,  on  the  outskirts, 
where  the  English  and  American  people  congregate, 
and  where  the  consulates  are  generally  located,  but 
Jack  prefers  to  be  in  the  city  itself,  where  he  can 
hear  the  bells  on  St.  Sophia  call  the  Moslem  to 
prayer,  or  the  loud  voice  of  the  muezzin  upon  the 
minaret  chanting  the  adan  at  sunrise — memories 
that  never  leave  the  mind  in  later  years. 

He  has  another  motive.  If  the  pasha  reaches 
Stamboul  before  the  grand  finale  of  the  game,  he 
will  look  for  his  enemy  in  Pera  or  Galata,  the  fash 
ionable  suburbs  of  the  old  city,  where,  of  course,  he 
will  not  find  him. 

The  detective  force  of  Constantinople  is  hardly 
equal  to  that  of  Paris — when  a  man  desires  to  hide 
himself  in  the  former  city  he  can  easily  do  so,  and 


2b§  DOCTOR  JACK. 

It  frill  only  be  by  accident  that  his  whereabouts  may 
become  known. 

So  Jack  believes  himself  secure.  He  purchases  a 
red  fez  the  first  thing,  and  adopting  this,  renders 
himself  less  conspicuous,  for  many  of  the  Turks 
have  come  to  wearing  just  such  garments  as  French 
men — they  cannot  quite  go  the  usually  loud  costume 
of  the  average  English  tourist. 

It  may  be  set  down  for  granted  that  Jack  has  his 
hands  full,  but  he  is  feeling  like  a  fighting  cock, 
and  was  never  better  in  his  life,  so  if  he  fails,  he 
cannot  offer  as  an  excuse  that  he  was  not  in  condi 
tion. 

Two  days  and  nights — that  is  the  most  he  can 
count  on  ere  Abdallah  Pasha  turns  up— perhaps 
even  now  the  Turk  is  on  the  way,  driving  fast  as  an 
European  train  can  take  him  for  the  city  on  the 
Bosphorus,  eager  to  thwart  the  schemes  of  his 
shrewd  Yankee  enemy. 

Jack's  first  desire  is  to  find  this  out — there  is  a 
telegraph  line  to  Paris,  and  he  seeks  the  Hotel  de 
Londres  in  Pera,  where  he  sends  a  message  to  the 
prefect  of  police,  carefully  worded,  and  desires  an 
answer. 

Then,  knowing  that  it  will  be  some  hours  before 
he  can  receive  his  reply,  he  asks  the  operator,  a 
Frenchman,  to  hold  it  for  him,  after  which  he  saun 
ters  away. 

The  Turks  are  accustomed  to  seeing  Franks  in  all 
places,  and  derive  much  income  from  them,  so  that 
they  pay  no  attention  to  them  so  long  as  they  saun 
ter  about. 

Hence  Jack  is  too  wise  to  rush  along,  no  matter 
what  eagerness  he  may  be  restraining,  but  makes  up 


/HHJTVR  JACK.  £# 

for  thia  by  persistence,  so  that  lie  gets  there  all  the 
same. 

Leaving  Pera,  he  makes  inquirie..,  and  finally 
enters  the  shop  of  an  armorer  in  a  bazar.  The  man 
looks  at  him  closely,  gives  a  cry  of  "Allah  is  great! 
it  is  my  master,"  and  kisses  his  hand  impulsively. 

This  Turk  is  a  man  whom  Doctor  Jack  has  ma^e 
his  slave — when  here,  before,  circumstances  allowed 
him  to  do  Achmed  a  great  favor,  and  the  man  fairly 
worships  the  ground  he  walks  on. 

Jack  needs  him  now — he  tells  him  what  the  risk 
is,  but  the  man  shrugs  his  shoulders.  His  life  would 
have  been  taken  before  but  for  Jack,  and  he  is  quite 
willing  to  jeopardize  it  now,  if  by  so  doing  he  may 
prove  his  gratitude. 

Such  words  please  the  American,  and  he  ki»ows 
Achmed  means  it,  too.  He  will  do  whatever  he  is 
toM  to  the  best  of  his  ability. 

Jack  becomes  more  positive  in  his  belief  that  if 
Aleck  is  alive  they  will  save  him.  He  is  very  dogged 
in  his  way,  and  having  set  his  course,  will  sail  it 
until  the  mast  is  blown  out,  before  changing. 

He  gives  the  Turkish  armorer  certain  work  to  do, 
and  declares  that  he  will  return  to  the  shop  to  hear 
his  report  at  dusk  Achmed  knows  where  Abdallah 
Pasha  has  his  residence — just  outside  of  the  great 
city,  and  overlooking  the  blue  Bosphorus — one  of 
the  loveliest  sites  the  human  mind  could  conceive. 
His  grounds  are  noted  for  their  magnificence.  Cer 
tain  European  friends  of  the  pasha,  who  .have 
traveled  a  great  deal,  have  seen  and  admired  the 
palace  and  its  surroundings,  but  none  of  them  have, 
with  the  owner's  consent,  ever  set  eyes  on  the  inter 
ior  of  the  harem  or  the  seraglio,  where  the  beautiful 
hcuris  of  the  Orient  pass  their  life  of  luxury . 


240  DOCTOJt  JACK. 

Achmed  has  a  hard  task  before  him,  but  he  is 
more  than  ordinarily  shrewd  for  e  Turk.  It  was 
from  him  Jack  got  his  hint  that  his  friend  Aleck 
had  not  been  killed,  but  was  a  prisoner  in  the  Turk's 
palace,  and  he  is  now  sent  out,  well  supplied  with 
money,  to  ascertain  the  exact  truth. 

As  for  Doctor  Jack  himself,  he  hies  away  to  1  <  <> 
water  front.  His  idea  is  to  buy  a  fast  boat  of  some 
sort,  and  have  it  in  readiness  for  immediate  flight. 

There  are  a  number  of  men-of-war  at  the  Golden 
Horn,  and  among  others  Jack  sees  one  bearing  the 
Stars  and  Stripes,  What  a  thrill  the  sight  of  the 
dear  old  flag  gives  him.  If  he  could  only  rescue 
Aleck,  and  all  of  them  get  under  the  shelter  of  that 
flag,  they  would  be  safe,  but  he  knows  the  com- 
marTder  would  not  dare  shelter  them  after  they  have 
entered  a  Turkish  palace  and  defied  the  power  of  a 
pasha,  so  he  makes  up  his  mind  to  depend  only  on 
himself. 

Making  inquiries  he  finds  a  vessel  for  sale,  and 
discovers  she  is  an  English  yacht,  small  in  build, 
but  well  manned.  He  meets  the  owner  on  board, 
has  a  private  talk,  and  in  half  an  hour  the  Thistle 
down  is  his.  The  crew  greet  their  new  master,  and 
Jack  is  in  charge. 

He  has  a  talk  with  the  captain,  and  examines  the 
interior  of  the  yacht,  making  some  suggestions  re 
garding  the  hold,  where  a  fine  hiding-place  can  be 
made  between  two  bulkheads. 

Having  given  explicit  orders,  Doctor  Jack  again 
<ands.  It  is  long  past  high  noon,  and  he  has  clone 
remarkably  well  for  the  few  hours  he  has  been  at 
work. 

Something  to  eat  is  easily  obtained  at  a  cr.fr>.  j.-nd 
Jack  is  enough  of  a  Turk  to  know  what  is  best,  so 


DOCTOR  JAOS.  2« 

he  fares  well  where  a  stranger  might  almost  starve. 

After  this  is  over  he  again  seeks  the  hotel  in  the 
Pera  suburb,  eager  to  see  what  the  news  may  be 
from  Paris.  A  dispatch  is  awaiting  him — it  is  brie/ 
and  to  the  point. 

"He  left  Paris  on  the  night  of  the  fourth." 

Jack  calculates  quickly,  consults  his  red-covered 
vade  mecum,  which  gives  the  arrival  and  departure 
of  trains.  Unless  the  pasha  is  detained  on  the  war, 
he  will  arrive  at  Stamboul  some  time  early  on  the 
second  night,  but  Jack  has  never  known  a  train  to 
be  on  time  here,  and  he  counts  on  having  both 
nights  entirely. 

This  is  as  much  as  he  expected.  The  work  is  be 
fore  them,  and  they  must  make  haste.  He  hurries 
to  the  shop  of  Achmed.  That  worthy  is  not  in,  and 
he  has  to  wait.  At  dusk  he  sees  the  armorer  coming 
through  the  crowd.  Already  the  smoking  oil  lamps 
have  been  lighted  in  many  of  the  booths,  giving  the 
scene  an  additional  weird  aspect  as  the  dark  faces 
and  many-colored  garments  of  the  groups  are  seen 
under  the  yellow  glow  of  these  illuminating  agents. 

Jack  cannot  but  notice  these  things  even  while 
his  mind  is  engrossed  with  the  business  in  hand, 
for  he  is  something  of  an  artist  in  .his  way,  and  al 
ways  grasps  the  picturesque. 

Achmed  makes  an  obeisance  as  he  comes  in — his 
veneration  for  the  American  is  great.  A.S  is  hie 
usual  custom,  Jack  proceeds  to  get  the  facts  from, 
him  immediately. 

He  learns  that  the  Turk  has  been  in  the  palace  of 
the  pashs,,  bribed  one  of  the  servitors,  and  even 
looked  upon  Aleck  Morton  in  his  prison.  This  he  de 
scribes  to  Jack  as  a  dungeon  beneath  the  ground, 
where  Aleck  has  been  ket>t  all  these  weeks  and 


JAC&. 

months.     His  garments  ar®  in  tatters,  his  face  thin, 
but  his  Yankee  spirit  unbroken. 

Twice  he  has  attempted  to  escape,  and  came  near 
doing  it,  but  the  vigilance  of  the  guard  presented 
him.  There  is  a  grating  of  iron  covering  an  air  hole 
that  lets  a  ray  of  light  into  the  dark  dungeon  during 
the  day  time.  Could  Achmed  lead  him  to  it  after 
nightfall?  The  faithful  Turk  prostrates  himself 
and  declares  it  is  possible.  Jack  asks  more  ques 
tions,  makes  an  appointment,  and  hurries  away. 

He  hies  himself  to  the  home  of  the  American 
minister — it  is  possible  that  this  gentleman  may  in 
terfere  and  save  Aleck,  for  no  matter  what  his 
offense  has  been,  he  is  an  American  citizen,  and  en 
titled  to  the  protection  of  his  flag. 

The  fates  are  against  him.  He  finds  that  the 
minister,  together  with  the  British  ambassador,  has 
gone  off  for  a  cruise  on  a  new  vessel  that  has  just 
been  built  for  the  antiquated  Turkish  navy. 

"When  will  he  be  back?" 

"With  rare  good  luck,  if  the  engines  do  not  break 
down,  in  a  day  or  so,  but,"  with  a  shrug,  "we  al 
ways  allow  for  accidents  in  Stamboul." 

Just  so,  and  this  sets  Doctor  Jack  back  a  peg  or 
two  in  his  calculations.  He  remembers  the  Quinne 
baug,  the  old  style  American  man-of-war,  then  in 
port,  and  wonders  if  her  captain  dares  to  assist  him, 
shakes  his  head,  grinds  his  teeth  together,  and  Bays, 
emphatically: 

"Before  I  could  set  the  wheels  going  he  would  be 
here — no,  I  see  very  plainlv  this  good  arm  alone 
stands  between  Aleck  and  death." 


JAtSZ.  L  .3 


CHAPTER  XX. 

OVER  THE   WALL  TO  THE   PALACE. 

If  ever  Doctor  Jack  was  aroused  in  all  his  life,  ha 
ceitainly  is  now  —  a  lion  at  bay  could  not  exhibit 
more  animation,  for  success  or  failure  means  much 
to  him.  There  are  rare  qualities  about  this  man 
that  make  him  an  enemy  to  be  feared  —  his  usually 
quiet  manner  can  be  thrown  off,  and  a  fierce  aggres 
siveness  takes  its  place. 

Passing  along  through  the  streets  he  heads  toward 
the  bazar.  Crowds  jostle  him  —  they  are  composed 
of  representatives  of  many  nations—  Circassians, 
Arabs,  Russians,  Jews,  negroes,  Greeks,  Armenians 
added  to  the  Turks  themselves,  Servians,  and  natives 
of  Montenegro—  each  in  his  national  costume,  make 
a  spectacle  not  to  be  found  elsewhere  upon  the 
globe. 

Looking  neither  to  the  right  nor  left,  Jack  more 
than  once  stumbles  over  some  mangy  cur,  of  which 
millions,  one  could  almost  say,  roam  the  crooked 
thoroughfares  and  alleys  of  old  Stamboul,  where  day 
and  night  magnificence  and  squalor  go  hand  in 
hand. 

A  pilgrim  with  a  camel,  direct  from  Egypt  or  per 
haps  Persia,  adds  to  the  Oriental  interest  of  the 
scene,  while  a  fellow  who  has  a  performing  Dear 
from  the  Ural  Mountains,  draws  quite  a  crowd  but 
mighty  few  piastres,  for  the  Turks,  as  a  rule,  are 
clo^e  with  their  small  coins. 

So  Jack  pushes  in.  He  is  so  wrapped  up  in  thought 
that  he  overshoots  his  mark,  and  finds  himself  op- 


244  ~&&¥VR  SAG*. 

posite  a  mosque,  which  he  remembers  is  farther 
down  the  street  than  the  bazar  in  which  Achmed 
has  a  stall. 

His  attention  is  attracted  by  the  loud  voices  of  a 
band  of  howling  dervishes  in  the  mosque,  and  he 
glances  in  for  a  moment  to  hear  their  continual 
shouts  of  'La  ilia  ha  ilia  Allah  1"  and  witness  their 
contortions. 

Jack  is  no  stranger  to  the  sight.  He  has  looked 
upon  dervishes  of  all  grades,  from  the  dancers  of 
Stamboul  to  those  of  the  singing  tribe,  who  take  the 
place  of  our  "little  German  band"  in  Persian  cities. 

Turning  back,  he  is  soon  in  the  bazar — it  is  less 
crowded  now,  but  Achmed  is  there,  waiting,  ready 
to  lead  the  daring  American  to  the  prison  of  his 
friend,  no  matter  what  the  danger. 

They  pass  out,  and  once  upon  the  street,  Jack 
manages  to  disguise  himself  a  little  more,  so  that  at 
first  sight  he  may  be  taken  for  a  Turk.  Under  the 
guidance  of  the  faithful  Achmed  they  gradually 
leave  the  busy  mart  behind,  and  enter  upon  another 
portion  of  the  city. 

They  are  aiming  for  i  h  3  suburbs  in  the  direction 
of  the  Sultan's  palace,  which  is  situated  upon  an 
elevation,  so  that  the  Grand  Mogul  of  the  Turks  may 
from  his  flat  roof  under  the  shelter  of  the  canopy, 
lounge  and  look  upon  the  fairest  scene  mortal  eyes 
ever  beheld — the  wonderful  city  flashing  in  the  sun, 
the  blue  Bosphorus  with  its  white  sails,  and  the 
chore  of  Asia  beyond,  whither  some  day  the  last  of 
the  Turks  will  retreat  when  Russia  has  her  will. 

The  palace  of  Abdallah  Pasha  is  not  a  great  dis 
tance  from  the  grand  residence  of  his  Sultan,  and 
though  not  attempting  to  rival  the  latter,  it  is  a 
place  ©f  no  mean  pretensions — the  building  itself 


DOCTOR  JAQK.  245 

being  of  marble,  filled  with  costly  ornaments  bought 
in  Western  capitals  like  Paris,  and  the  grounds  of 
spacious  extent,  walled  in,  and  filled  with  trees  and 
shrubbery  that  charm  the  eye. 

Jack  hac  been  in  it  before — the  memory  of  that 
awful  night  can  never  leave  his  inind,  and  more 
than  once  he  has  thought  what  an  outrage  that  so 
fair  a  domain  should  be  owned  by  such  an  ogre  as 
the  old  pasha,  but  such  is  generally  the  case  in  this 
world,  where  one  does  not  have  to  be  beautiful  in 
order  to  admire  lovely  creations. 

Avoiding  observation  as  much  as  possible,  they 
approach  the  wall  that  marks  the  end  of  the  pasha's 
grounds.  This  can  be  scaled  by  an  energetic 
climber,  though  the  average  Turk  might  be  appalled 
at  the  prospect.  Jack  has  made  preparations  for  just 
such  an  emergency,  and  this  is  where  his  forme* 
experience  stands  him  in  well.  On  his  person  Ach- 
med  carries  a  rope— it  is  slender,  but  of  a  strength 
beyond  question.  He  now  produces  it,  and  by  tht- 
time  it  is  unwound  from  his  waist,  where  he  ha? 
carried  it,  there  is  a  length  of  some  twenty  feet  re 
vealed. 

The  stars  are  hidden  by  a  canopy  of  clouds,  an* 
the  darkness  of  the  night  favors  their  design,  though- 
sharp  eyes  can  see  something  even  amid  the  gen 
eral  gloom.  All  is  silent  around  them — the  weird 
noises  of  the  city  have  been  left  behind,  «nd  in  this 
region  of  royalty  quietness  reigns. 

Jack  takes  the  rope,  and  moving  along  the  wall  to 
a  certain  spot,  casts  it  from  him.  Having  once  upon 
a  time  been  a  cowboy  in  Texas,  he  knows  how  to 
handle  a  rope — every  trick  in  that  line  is  familiar  to 
him,  so  that  it  only  requires  a  few  throws  in  erder 
to  fasten  the  noose  above. 


246  DOUTQR  JACK. 

Jack  tries  it,  his  weight  doep  not  dislodge  tho 
rope,  and  he  mounts  upward  hand  over  hand,  with 
the  agility  of  a  Jack  Tar.  Reaching  the  top  of  the 
wall,  he  waits  for  Achmed,  who  is  longer  coming, 
and  whom  he  is  compelled  to  assist  by  an  energetic 
pull.  The  descent  is1  easy  enough,  and  presently 
they  stand  in  the  garden.  Jack  makes  a  note  of  the 
spot,  by  means  of  a  cypress  tree  that  leans  toward 
the  wall,  and  thus  feels  sure  of  finding  it  again  in 
case  of  a  hurry,  for  there  is  no  telling  what  adven 
ture  may  befall  them  ere  they  again  see  the  outside 
of  those  walls. 

He  has  made  inquiries  of  the  Turk  with  regard  to 
the  truth  of  the  rumor  that  a  pack  of  fierce  hounds 
from  the  steppes  of  Siberia,  accustomed  to  pulling 
gaunt  wolves  down,  are  let  loose  in  the  pasha's  gar 
dens  at  nightfall.  Achmed  can  attest  to  the  presence 
of  the  dogs,  for  that  day  he  saw  them  in  their  ken 
nels,  but  he  believes  it  is  intended  that  the  fierce 
brutes  shall  only  be  allowed  their  liberty  011  certain 
occasions,  and  that  the  report  has  been  circulated 
by  means  of  the  newspapers  and  hodjas  or  school 
teachers  who  read  them  aloud  in  the  cafes,  in  order 
to  frighten  people  who  might  be  tempted  to  climb 
the  walls  and  enter  the  pasha's  grounds.  The  one 
experience  Abdallah  had  with  inquisitive  foreign 
ers,  when  one  of  them  so  nearly  ran  off  with  the 
prize  flower  of  his  harem,  has  been  a  lesson  to  him. 

Passing  among  the  trees,  representing  many 
countries,  and  along  wonderful  flower  beds,  that  in 
the  daytime  present  a  gorgeous  spectacle.  Jack  and 
his  companion  draw  near  the  white  walls  of  the  pal- 
aco,  which  is  built  something  after  tho  manner  of  a 
rnosque,  having  a  dome,  and  several  minarets 
alongside. 


JACK.  347 

A  great  snarling  from  one  quarter  tells  where  the 
Siberian  hounds  are  held  in  leash,  and  Jack  puts  one 
hand  to  where  he  has  his  faithful  revolver,  for 
should  these  brutes  get  loose,  they  would  overtake 
them  long  before  they  could  reach  the  friendly  wall 
at  the  point  where  the  rope  dangles,  and  a  terrible 
encounter  must  task  the  prowess  of  the  American 
adventurer  to  the  utmost.  Still,  not  a  twinge  of  fear 
goes  through  his  heart — the  man  does  not  know  its 
meaning,  and  has  faced  many  a  danger  even  more 
dreadful  without  flinching. 

Now  they  reach  the  wall  of  the  marble  palace, 
and  Achmed  turns  to  get  his  bearings,  so  he  may 
lead  his  benefactor  to  the  'spot  where  he  saw  the 
grating  over  the  dungeon  in  which  the  "dog  of  a 
Christian"  is  immured. 

"This  way,"  he  whispers,  and  Jack  follows  with 
out  a  word — they  get  down  on  hands  and  knees,  and 
inch  by  inch  crawl  along,  making  not  the  faintest 
sound  by  means  of  which  their  presence  can  be  dis 
covered. 

It  is  exciting  work,  even  if  silence  does  mark 
their  progress,  for  they  are  on  the  grounds  of  th'j 
man  who  hates  Doctor  Jack  with  all  the  venom  of 
his  eastern  nature,  and,  once  discovered,  their  posi 
tion  will  be  one  of  extreme  peril. 

Jack  chuckles  as  he  thinks  of  Abdallah  Pasha, 
fretting  and  fuming  over  some  small  delay  en  route 
— if  he  only  knew  what  the  "Christian  dogs"  were 
up  to  how  he  would  tear  his  hair  and  gnash  h  is 
teeth  in  impotent  rage.  Somehow  the  thought  en 
courages  the  American,  and  gives  him  new  vim  to 
go  at  the  business  in  hand. 

He  sees  Achmed  come  to  a  dead  halt,  and  crouch 
low.  Has  the  faithful  fellow  found  the  grating?  Are 


*48  MOTOR  JAGtL 

tney  over  the  dungeon  where  poor  Aleck  languishes? 
Jack  is  about  to  speak  when  a  sound  falls  on  his  ear. 
He  is  rooted  to  the  spot,  for  it  is  the  soft  voice  of  a 
woman  he  hears.  Looking  beyond  the  Turk,  he  now 
sees  a  white  robed  object  close  to  the  ground,  and 
as  it  moves,  he  realizes  that  here  is  the  source  from 
whence  emanates  the  sounds  he  has  heard. 

Both  men  are  crouching  low,  their  heads  are  near 
the  earth,  which  is  a  splendid  conductor  of  sound, 
hence  they  can  hear  plainly.  It  is  a  female  beyond, 
and  her  voice  is  like  the  rippling  of  the  brook  in 
the  forest,  soft,  mellow  and  musical.  Jack  has  only 
once  before  heard  such  a  voice,  and  it  was  here  011 
the  Bosphorus. 

Can  this  be  Sady,  the  lovely  houri  with  whom 
bold  Aleck  fell  in  love  and  to  rescue  whom  he 
placed  himself  in  his  present  terrible  condition? 
Jack's  mind  goes  back  to  the  scene  on  the  border  of 
the  Bosphorus,  when  last  he  saw  this  enchantress, 
and  he  decides  in  the  affirmative. 

What  is  she  doing  here?  It  is  folly  to  ask— love, 
blind  god  though  he  may  be  accounted  generally,  is 
)ceen  of  eye,  and  Sady  has  not  only  discovered  where 
fthe  one  she  loves  is  incarcerated,  but  has  also  found 
a  means  of  communicating  with  him. 

Even  as  they  look  she  rises  and  glides  away  in 
the  direction  of  the  harem,  and  the  last  words  they 
hear  her  drop  through  the  grating  are  in  English : 

"I  will  come  if  I  live,  Aleck." 

Jack  is  tempted  to  stop  her,  but  fears  lest  she  may 
be  surprised  .  into  crying  aloud,  and  bringing  upon 
the  scene  some  of  the  pasha's  janizaries,  remnants 
or  descendants  of  the  famous  band  which  was 
broken  into  fragments  many  years  before.  Their 
business  is  with  Aleck,  and  the  beauty  whose  face 


DOCTOR  JAGSL  249 

has  drawn  him  into  this  dire  scrape  could  be  barred 
out  of  the  question  altogether. 

Achmed  no  longer  holds  back,  now  that  the  girl 
has  glided  away,  and  in  another  minute  Doctor  Jack 
has  his  hands  resting  upon  the  grating  that  lies  be 
tween  Aleck  Morton  and  liberty — between  the  fair 
Avis  and  his  own  waiting  heart.  Instinctively  he 
feels  the  bars  to  test;  their  resisting  qualities,  and 
smiles  as  he  remembers  the  mighty  strength  that 
lies  in  his  own  sturdy  arms  and  Herculean  shoulders. 
If  it  comes  to  a  tug:  of  war,  he  does  not  doubt  but 
that  he  will  be  able  to  tear  the  whole  grating  out, 
and  thus  insure  an  opening  for  Aleck  to  pass 
through. 

Achmed  says  nothing,  but  goes  a  little  way  fa? 
ther  on — the  faithful  armorer  would  mount  guard 
while  Jack  holds  his  conversation  with  the  man  in 
the  dungeon,  so  that  he  may  warn  them  in  time 
should  any  one  approach. 

It  would  be  hard  to  define  the  feelings  of  th~ 
American,  as  he  crouches  low  and  puts  his  hea<* 
near  the  grating  to  listen.  Surrounded  by  th>* 
many  things  that  remind  him  of  the  fact  of  has  beiiif? 
in  a  Turkish  garden,  and  the  garden  ^f  a  bitte* 
enemy  at  that,  he  yet  remembers  he  is  Jack  Evans* 
and  his  friend,  the  brother  of  the  girl  he  loves  lies  in 
a  dungeon  below. 

Listening  intently,  he  can  hear  no  sound — al*  is  as 
silent  as  the  grave.  Were  it  a  tomb  he  hangs  over 
it  could  not  be  more  desolate  and  still — truth  t<  tell, 
it  is  a  living  tomb  for  the  wretched  prisoner  of  the 
pasha. 

Jack  can  stand  it  no  longer — he  must  speak,  an<l 
know  the  worst.  So  he  presses  his  face  close  do*  \ 
to  the  cruel  bars,  and  whispers : 


250  DOCTOR  JACK 

"Aleck!" 

The  sound  seems  to  steal  down  into  the  awful 
darkness  of  the  dungeon,  but  no  reply  comes  back 
to  greet  him.  Jack  listens  for  a  minute,  and  then 
tries  again,  this  time  in  a  louder  key. 

He  believes  he  hears  a  rustling  sound — on  the  in 
stant  he  imagines  it  is  the  clanking  of  chains. 
Achmed  has  not  said  anything  about  Aleck  being 
•weighted  down  this  way,  and  a  feeling  of  actual 
horror  seizes  Jack  at  the  very  thought. 

He  conceives  an  idea — in  the  old  days -when  Aleck 
and  he  were  chums  they  had  a  secret  little  whistle 
used  as  a  signal — it  is  easily  given,  and  by  a  stranger 
might  be  mistaken  for  the  notes  of  some  sleepy  bird 
awakened  at  the  wrong  hour.  Jack  smiles  to  remem 
ber  how  history  repeats  itself — how,  when  hundreds 
of  years  ago,  in  the  times  of  the  Crusades,  the  Eng 
lish  king,  Richard  Cceur  de  Lion,  was  held  captive 
by  Duke  Leopold  of  Austria  in  the  old  castle  of 
Durenstein,  his  faithful  minstrel,  Blondel,  roaming 
all  Europe  in  search  of  his  missing  master,  played 
and  sang  the  familiar  romaunt  under  the  walls  of 
the  castle,  and  in  this  way  discovered  his  king,  who 
recognized  the  air  he  loved,  and  the  voice  of  his 
Blondel. 

He  gives  the  signal  whistle  clearly — there  is  a  dis 
tinct  movement  below,  and  then  a  groan.  A  voice 
breaks  on  his  ear,  full  of  lamentation  and  misery — 
he  can  hardly  realize  it  is  Aleck  who  thus  exclaims: 

"Surely  my  dream  is  coining  true — my  mind  wan 
ders.  I  imagine  I  hear  sounds  that  in  the  nature  of 
things  cannot  be.  Let  me  look  the  truth  calmly  in 
the  face — what  does  that  indicate?  Am  I  to  go  mad? 
Oh  !  ye  gods,  it  is  a  fate  I  have  always  shuddered 
at.  Anything  but  that.  If  he  would  only  kill  me 


DOCTOR  JACK.  251 

to-night  I  would  thank  him,  but  to  die  and  yet  live 
for  years — \vhat  can  I  do  to  bring  the  end  quickly? 
If  he  would  put  me  up  and  have  a  file  of  his  soldiers 
shoot  me,  I  would  show  him  how  an  American  boy 
could  meet  death  with  a  laugh,  but  such  a  fate  as 
this — I  wonder  if  Avis  will  ever  know — dear  Avis — 
never  to  see  her  Aleck  again— I  hope  she  may  be 
happy  in  her  ignorance  of  his  cruel  doom." 

Jack  can  stand  it  no  longer — a  great  lump  seems 
to  have  arisen  in  his  throat  as  he  listens  to  the  rav 
ings  of  his  friend  in  the  prison  below. 

"Aleck  !"  he  calls,  perhaps  louder  than  prudence 
may  have  dictated,  but  for  the  moment  caution  is  a 
secondary  matter  with  him — the  querulous  voice 
below  ceases  its  murmuring. 

"Who  calls  me?"  asks  the  unseen  Aleck,  in  a 
quivering  tone  of  mingled  hope  and  fear. 

"It  is  I— Doctor  Jack." 

"No,  no,  you  deceive  me — he  is  dead — they  told 
me  so — they  swore  it  to  me,"  cries  the  prisoner. 

"Then  they  lied  to  you,"  coolly  replies  Jack. 
"Have  you  any  means  of  climbing  up  here  to  this 
grating  so  we  can  talk?"  for  he  has  a  pretty  good 
idea  that  Aleck  was  close  to  Sady  at  the  time  she 
cooed  her  farewell  to  him. 

"Yes,  yes,  in  a  minute.  Wait  for  me — don't  go 
away,  Jack,  for  God's  sake.  I'm  coming,  indeed  I 
am,"  he  talks  constantly,  poor  fellow,  as  he  labori 
ously  climbs  the  wall  in  a  way  he  has  arranged  long 
ago,  just  as  though  he  fears  lest  it  shall  all  prove  a 
delusion  and  a  snare.  "I  have  been  up  here  many  a 
niglit  looking  at  the  stars  and  wondering  if  Avis 
•were  watching  them  then.  Here  I  am  at  last — I  was 
sure  to  get  here — where  are  you,  old  fellow?  You 
haven't  gone — you  wouldn't  desert  your  Aleck? 


252  DOCTOR  JACK. 

Answer  me,  or  my  brain  will  burst — answer,  for 
Heaven's  sake.** 

Jack  does  more — he  seizes  the  hand  that  has  been 
thrust  through  the  grating  and  squeezes  it  in  both 
of  his — ay,  bends  down  and  kisses  it,  and  without 
shame  to  his  manhood,  drops  a  scalding  tear  upon  it, 
as  he  realizes"how  thin  is  Aleck's  once  plump  mem 
ber. 

"Poor  boy!  poor  Aleck!  to  think  what  you  have 
suffered  here,  while  I  roamed  the  streets  of  Paris 
with  every  luxury  that  money  could  buy.  I  never 
dreamed  that  you  were  alive  until  lately  when  I 
learned  certain  things  that  gave  me  a  clew,  and  I 
made  all  has^te  to  reach  your  side." 

He  caresses  the  thin  hand  as  a  mother  might  that 
of  her  sick  child. 

UI  can  hardly  believe  my  senses.  Can  it  be  you, 
indeed,  Jack?  Then  my  prayers  are  answered  and— 
bend  down,  and  let  me  touch  your  face — I  cannot 
see  you,  but  I  may  feel." 

The  hand  creeps  over  Jack's  face — how  it  thrills 
him — then  a  feeling  of  horror  strikes  to  his  soul — 
Aleck  has  said  he  could  not  see.  Have  they  burned 
out  his  eyes  in  torture?  It  is  a  favorite  method  of 
revenge  among  the  Turks. 

"Great  Heaven!  you  are  not  blind,  Aleck — they 
have  not  put  out  your  eyes?"  he  cries. 

"No,  no,  it  is  the  darkness  I  complained  of.  I 
know  you  are  Jack  now,  and  I  thank  God  for  the 
fact  of  your  coming.  You  can  now  carry  the  news  of 
my  fate  home  to  Avis.**  - 

"Carry  fiddlesticks!  I  came  here  to  take  you  away 
with  n;.e,  and  I'm  going  to  do  it  to-morrow  night  if 
I  have  to  blow  the  whole  castle  of  the  pasha  to 
pieces." 


253 

"That  would  be  joy  indeed,  but  I  am  afraid  you 
cannot  do  it,  Jack.  You  will  be  caught  and  put  to 
-ieath — we  could  nevor  quit  the  country.  Better 
leave  me  to  my  fate*'* 

"Don't  bother  your  head  about  that.  Rest  as 
sured  that  when  Jack  Evans  decides  to  do  a  thing 
mountains  won't  h  alt  him.  Out  of  this  you  come  in 
another  night  dead  certain.  I've  made  all  prepara 
tions,  old  fellow,  and  we'll  soon  be  beyond  the  juris 
diction  of  Mr.  Turk." 

"You  give  me  new  life — already  I  seem  to  sniff 
the  salty  &ir  of  liberty.  Yes,  I  will  go  with  you.  and 
if  we  succeed  I  shall  take  you  to  Avis — you  re 
member  how  often  I  have  talked  of  her — she  shall 
reward  you  for  your  noble  devotion  to  her  Aleck." 

Jack's  heart  beats  like  a  trip  hammer — the  words 
seem  so  prophetic  that  he  laughs  merrily. 

"Aleck,  old  man,  I've  got  the  start  of  you  there. 
Avis  and  I  are  good  friends — it  is  as  much  for  her 
sake  as  your  own  that  I  am  here  now." 

"Avis — you  know  her?"  surprised  and  delighted. 

"Know  her — yes,  and  love  her  with  all  my  heart 
and  soul,"  earnestly. 

"Thank  God  for  that — it  is  what  I  have  longed 
and  dreamed  for  in  the  past.  Where  did  you  meet 
her — where  is  she  now?" 

"We  met  in  a  picture  gallery  at  Madrid — she  was 
at  the  bull-fight,  and  saw  me  get  away  with  a  black 
deMl  of  a  toro  that  had  flung  the  regular  matador 
out  of  the  ring.  Some  strange  adventures  followed, 
and  we  have  become  very  good  friends,  indeed — 
sworn  allies  in  the  design  of  rescuing  one  Aleck 
Morton  from  the  hands  of  the  wily  Turk." 

"She  is  here?" 

''Yes,  in  Stamboul,  ready  to  lend   any  assistancs 


2&4  DOCTU&  JACK. 

in  her  power,  to  show  her  love  for  you.  But  no 
more  need  be  said — I  must  go  now.  You  will  be 
ready  to-morrow  night?" 

''Ready — the  minutes  between  will  be  years," 
breathes  the  poor  prisoner. 

"\\ell,  good-by  until  then,  old  fellow.  Take  care 
how  you  descend.  Have  your  trunks  all  packed 
ready  for  a  sea  voyage,"  a  squeeze  of  the  hand, 
and  Doctor  Jack  turns  away  with  tears  in  his  eyes, 
for  this  meeting  has  affected  him  in  a  most  extraor 
dinary  manner. 


JACK.  256 


CHAPTER  XXL 

MERCEDES. 

Time  is  valuable  to  Jack,  and  really  there  is  noth 
ing  more  to  say  to  his  friend.  He  has  already  forgo*- 
ten  all  about  Sady,  nor  does  she  come  into  his  calcu 
lations  ;  but  it  would  have  saved  him  some  future 
trouble  had  he  figured  on  her  in  the  game. 

He  makes  a  sign  to  Achmed,  who  knows  the  in 
terview  is  at  an  end,  and  once  more  leads  the  way 
along  the  palace  foundations,  with  the  intention  of 
reaching  the  wall  at  the  point  where  the  friendly 
rope  hangs. 

Jack  has  a  dozen  things  upon  his  mind,  and  is 
endeavoring  to  solve  a  certain  puzzle,  when  some 
thing  happens  to  arouse  him.  The  Siberian  wolf- 
dogs  burst  out  into  so  fierce  a  clamor  that  one  can 
almost  imagine  they  have  slipped  the  leash,  and  are 
running  loose.  This  sound  gives  Jack  a  start,  and 
he  glances  up,  to  see  Achmed  trembling  just  in 
front,  as  though  he  has  looked  upon  a  ghost. 

"Senor  Jack!"  comes  in  a  soft  voice,  as  if  from 
the  very  palace  wall. 

The  American  does  not  restrain  the  cry  that  bub 
bles  to  his  lips — he  recognizes  that  voice,  and  yet 
can  hardly  believe  his  senses.  Those  soft  tones  he 
listened  to  in  the  flower  mart  of  Barcelona,  again 
while  the  nun  from  Gerona  bent  over  his  wounded 
form,  then  at  the  bull -fight  in  Madrid,  and  later 
when  the  train  stopped  at  the  station,  and  the  seem 
ing  peasant  boy  warned  him  of  the  danger  beyond 
Logrono.  Yes,  it  is,  indeed,  Mercedes,  but  what  in 


250  DOCTOR  JACK. 

the  name  of  Heaven  does  the  Spanish  beauty  here— 
lie  has  fondly  believed  she  still  searches  Paris  for 
him. 

A  terrible  suspicion  flashes  into  his  mind — can  the 
pasha  have  arrived  ahead  of  time?  Almost  on  the 
instant  he  dismisses  it — such  a  thing  is  impossible — 
Mercedes  was  not  detained  in  Paris  like  the  pasha, 
and  there  has  really  been  nothing  to  prevent  her  fol 
lowing  them  in  some  clever  disguise. 

These  things  go  through  his  mind  with  the  rapid 
ity  of  lightning,  and  a  very  few  seconds  serve  to 
convince  him  that  there  is  no  reason  to  believe  all 
is  lost.  Of  course  the  mystery  of  her  presence  re 
mains  as  great  as  ever,  but  that  may  speedi'y  be 
cleared  up. 

He  turns  toward  the  marble  wall  of  the  palace  and 
discovers  a  small  opening — a  window  of  some  sort 
undoubtedly.  In  this  he  sees  Mercedes — she  is  not 
three  feet  away,  and  Jack  can  account  for  the  voice 
almost  breathing  in  his  ear  his  own  name. 

"You  here,  senorita?"  he  stammers,  and  is  greeted 
with  a  low,  silvery  laugh. 

"Senor  Jack  does  not  half  know  my  accomplish 
ments,  or  he  would  not  be  so  surprised.  Vaya!  I  am 
here,  and  every  slave  in  this  palace  obeys  my  will. 
If  I  uttered  a  signal  a  score  of  janizaries  would 
sweep  the  garden  from  end  to  end,  and  woe  to  any 
living  thing  they  found  there." 

She  utters  these  words  slowly,  as  if  to  allow  them 
to  fall  deep  into  the  heart  of  the  man  who  listens,  so 
that  he  may  comprehend  their  full  significance,  and 
Doctor  Jack,  for  perhaps  the  first  time  in  his  life, 
has  a  spasm  of  fear  creep  over  him. 

An  awful  thought  takes  possession  of  his  brain- 
one  that  for  the  moment  almost  paralyzes  his  tongue 


DOCTOR  JACK.  257 

and  prevents  speech.  Why  is  Mercedes  heie — how 
comes  she  to  have  such  omnipotent  power  in  the 
place  of  the  Turkish  pasha  unless  she  has  sold  her 
self  to  him  to  become  his  latest  wife,  and  if  this  is 
the  case,  why  has  she  done  this,  loving  another  man 
all  the  while? 

Jack  believes  he  knows  the  Spanish  character  well 
— revenge  comes  into  the  life  of  most  people  who 
live  unde~  Southern  skies,  and  she"— Mercedes — has 
sacrificed  herself  in  order  to  get  even  with  the  man 
she  worships,  but  who  can  find  no  love  for  her  in  re 
turn. 

Wliat  will  she  do?  She  is  here  as  the  representa 
tive  of  the  pasha,  and  has  his  hatred  for  Doctor  Jack 
to  look  after  as  well  as  her  own  feelings  in  the 
matter. 

Shaking  off  the  dreadful  clutch  of  that  dumb  mon 
ster,  fear,  Jack  addresses  the  other — he  must  know 
the  worst. 

"Mercedes,  can  it  be  possible  you  have  sold  your 
self  to  that  wretched  Turk?"  he  asks. 

She  gives  a  sort  of  hysterical  laugh. 

"I  am  his  wife — we  were  married  in  Paris.  I  hold 
an  instrument  whereby  he  has  sworn  to  immediately 
dispose  of  every  slave  now  in  his  harem,  and  never 
to  displace  me.  It  was  arranged  through  Don  Car 
los,  who  made  sure  that  the  knot  was  tied  in  such  a 
manner  that  no  process  could  defeat  it." 

"How  came  you  here?"  he  continues. 

"On  the  same  train  as  yourself,  but  you  did  not 
know  it.  There  are  a  good  many  things  Doctor 
Jack  does  not  know — for  instance  that  I  was  aware 
of  the  visit  he  made  Monsieur  le  Prefect  of  Police  in 
Paris,  and  guessed  what  his  intention  might  be." 


258  DOCTOR  JACK. 

"And  you  did  not  warn  the  pasha?" 

"You  see  I  did  not.  At  the  time  I  was  already  his 
wife,  and  little  did  I  care  whether  he  remained  in 
Paris  forever.  My  business  was  to  watch  yon — I 
have  done  it,  and,  caramba!  a  pretty  chase  you  gave 
me." 

She  is  a  mystery  to  him  yet — a  man  he  could 
fathom,  but  the  motives  that  influence  a  woman  are 
bevond  the  ken  of  any  mortal  being,  not  even  ex 
cepting  herself.  He  fears  Mercedes  now,  for  her 
power  seems  to  threaten  the  one  he  loves — Avis 
Morton. 

"You  know  why  I  have  come  here,  Mercedes — to 
save  my  friend  Aleck?"  he  sa\s. 

"Yes — her  brother — I  remember,"  with  a  sneer. 

"You  have  it  in  your  power  to  assist  me." 

"Indeed— how?" 

"Did  you  not  tell  me  you  were  mistress  here,  that 
your  word  was  law  by  the  power  he  gave  you,  until 
lie  himself  comes?" 

She  holds  out  her  hand,  and  he  takes  it. 

"That  ring — notice  it,  Senor  Jack.  It  is  the  sign 
of  my  captivity,  and  yet  it  holds  a  wondrous  power 
—at  sight  of  it  his  slaves  prostrate  themselves  be 
fore  me." 

"Then,  Mercedes,  you  have  power  to  open  the 
dungeon  doors  of  Aleck  Morton — to  set  him  free  be 
fore  the  pasha  reaches  Stamboul.  You  will  do  this — 
I  beg  of  you,  I  entreat  you,  by  the  memory  of  the 
past " 

"Stop!  That  is  the  last  talisman  Senor  Jack 
should  call  to  his  aid.  The  memory  of  the  past  would 
cause  me  to  cry  aloud,  and  fill  this  garden  with  his 
slaves  seeking  the  blood  of  the  Christian.  You 


Vh  ,/AlK.  259 

should  have  said  by  my  hopes  for  the  future.  But 
it  is  all  the  same — useless." 

"You  will  not  help  me?"  reprcachfully. 

"I  cannot.  On  oath  he  made  me  swear  by  every 
thing  sacred  not  to  give  Aleck  Morton  his  freedom. 
His  hatred  for  that  man  and  you  is  something  terri 
ble.  He  would  sacrifice  everything  in  the  world  to 
gratify  it.  Indeed,  it  was  through  this  channel  that 
I  made  such  remarkable  terms  with  him — in  a  word, 
lie  believes  his  feelings  are  equaled  by  my  own." 

"Meaning  that  you,  too,  hate  me,"  sadly,  for  the 
future  looks  dark,  indeed,  now — Avis  seems  farther 
away  than  ever  to  him. 

"That  is  not  true,  Senor  Jack.  My  feelings  have 
undergone  no  change  since  first  we  met  in  Barce 
lona,"  she  replies,  quietly,  and  a  glimmer  of  the 
truth  begins  to  creep  into  his  brain  like  the  first 
gleam  of  daylight  over  a  scene  of  darkness.  He  has 
believed  this  lovely  woman  possessed  extraordinary 
capacities  for  good  or  evil,  whichever  way  she 
might  incline,  and  now  there  seems  to  be  a  chance 
that  the  good  angel  has  dropped  a  seed  in  her  heart, 
which,  watered  with  the  tears  of  her  disappoint 
ment,  may  develop  into  a  glorious  tree,  bearing  fruit 
fit  for  heavenly  plucking. 

"Mercedes,  you  are  a  mystery  to  me.  In  the  name 
of  Heaven,  tell  me  plainly  why  did  you  marry  Ab- 
dallah  Pasha?"  he  exclaims,  not  willing  longer  to 
beat  around  the  bush. 

She  hesitates  a  moment,  and  then  her  reply  elec 
trifies  Doctor  Jack  as  human  words  have  never  done 
before : 

"To  save  you,  Senor  Jack,"  she  goes  on,  quickly, 
just  as  when  she  acknowledged  her  love  for  him,  as 
if  afraid  lest  he  might  interrupt  her.  "I  knew  you 


86U  DtWTVH  <MCK. 

would  not  give  uu  your  plans,  and  I  feared  that  dis 
aster  would  overtake  all,  so  I  resolved  to  put  myself 
in  a  position  where  I  could  save  you  at  last,  or,  if 
all  was  lost,  die  with  you." 

Imagine  Jack'?  feelings— can  he  ever  go  to  a  part 
of  the  world  where  the  memory  of  such  a  woman's 
devotion  could  not  reach  him?  True,  in  his  coun 
try  women  dc  not  say  such  things,  however  they 
may  feel,  but  he  does  not  forget  that  she  is  of  Spain, 
and  that  a  little  gipsy  blood  runs  in  her  veins.  He 
will  know  all — if  her  resentment  goes  to  Avis  she 
might  as  well  direct  it  toward  him. 

"If  you  still  regard  me  as  your  friend,  Mercedes, 
how  about  Miss  Morton?" 

Even  in  the  semi-darkness  he  knows  a  spasm 
crosses  the  beautiful  face  as  he  mentions  that  name, 
and  in  imagination  he  can  see  fire  flash  from  her 
eyes,  "the  most  magnificent  black  eyes  I  have  ever 
seen,"  Avis  has  said  of  them. 

"Avis — yes,  I  should  despise  and  hate  her  because 
she  has  stolen  what  I  hoped  belonged  to  me.  That  is 
the  creed  by  which  I  have  been  raised,  Doctor  Jack. 
And  yet,"  with  a  tremble  in  the  voice  as  though  a 
sob  chokes  her,  "I  have  tried  in  vain  to  do  so — some 
thing  comes  between  me  and  the  thought  every 
time — I  believe  it  is  the  face  of  my  sainted  mother 
in  Heaven.  Instead  of  hating,  strange  as  it  may 
seem,  I  love  Miss  Morton — I  would  save  you  for  her ! " 

Jack  experiences  a  revulsion  of  feeling ;  his  fears 
have  flown,  and  in  their  place  comes  the  deepest  ad 
miration  for  this  noble  creature,  amounting  almost 
to  veneration.  The  woman  who  could  rise  above 
the  weakness  of  her  sex,  above  social  and  religious 
training  in  a  country  beset  with  the  sin  of  retaliation 
for  wrong—  for  the  vendetta  is  practiced  in  Spain 


DOCTOR  JA.OK.  961 

even  as  in  Corsica  or  our  own  Kentucky — such  a 
woman  is  a  rara  avis,  and  deserves  the  deepest  hom 
age. 

The  American  adventurer  seizes  her  nand  again 
and  presses  it  hotly  to  his  lips. 

"Thank  God,  Mercedes,  for  your  noble  heart.  I 
knew  not  what  a  pearl  I  passed  by  when  I  looked 
beyond  you.  Never.  I  vow,  did  a  man  know  in 
the  same  day  two  such  women  as  Avis  and  Merce 
des.  Understand  me,  I  beg  of  you.  For  months  I 
carried  her  picture  with  me,  discovered  in  Aleck's 
baggage.  I  loved  her  even- before  I  met  her,  though, 
being  a  cynical  old  bachelor,  I  would  never  admit 
that  fact  even  to  myself.  I  would  not  have  you 
think  I  was  won  from  you." 

"Let  us  speak  of  something  else,  Senor  Jack,"  she 
says,  quietly,  realizing  that  he  is  becoming  slightly 
hysterical  in  his  endeavor  to  explain  how  he  came 
not  to  fall  desperately  in  love  with  her,  and  Jack 
finds  himself  brought  up  with  a  round  turn. 

"Pardon  me — yes,  it  was  of  Aleck  we  were  talk 
ing.  You  said  you  had  made  a  solemn  vow  not  to 
assist  him  to  escape — that  does  not  cause  you  to 
throw  any  obstacle  in  the  way  of  my  rescuing  him?' 

"No,  no.  My  vow  was  binding  in  but  one  way, 
and  then  only  until  he  comes." 

Jack  has  cause  later  on  to  comprehend  why  she 
emphasizes  those  last  words,  but  just  now  he  hardly 
notices  them. 

"The  pasha  is  on  the  way.  I  have  received  word 
—he  will  be  here  to-morrow  night,  or  the  next  day. 
Before  a  second  morning  breaks  I  hope  all  will  be 
done,  and  my  friend  resciied." 

''A.nd  then  you  will  l^ave  Stamboul  never  more  I/* 
with  sadness  in  her  voice. 


28*  DOCTOR   >ACK. 

"Yes,  indeed.  It  would  not  be  >afe  for  us  hero 
after  that.  A  man  like  the  pasha,  oold  and  unscru 
pulous  as  he  is  powerful,  would  hesitate  at  nothing 
in  order  to  carry  out  his  revenge.  We  cannot  leave 
Stamboul  too  soon.  Were  my  plans  for  departure 
arranged  this  .rery  night  would  see  us  beyond  the 
Golden  Horn." 

"You  go  by  water?" 

Jack  hesitates.  He  believes  there  is  no  need  of 
secrecy  between  Mercedes  and  himself  now  that  she 
has  bared  her  inner  soul  to  his  gaze,  and  r.e  knows 
the  noble  impulse  that  actuates  her.  but  she  notices 
that  he  does  not  immediately  reply. 

"Do  not  trouble  yourself,  Senor-Jack,  about  telling 
me,  yet  it  was  not  wholly  curiosity  that  impelled 
me  to  ask.  The  pasha  has  a  steam  yacht  in  the  har 
bor,  and  perhaps — who  knows?— this  fact  might  play 
an  important  part  in  the  game." 

"You  mistake  me,  Mercedes.  I  only  hesitated  be 
cause  my  plans  are  not  wholly  arranged.  I  have 
bought  a  small  English  yacht — the  same  captain 
and  crew  remain.  Somehow  we  shall  all  get  on 
board,  and  make  for  the  Mediterranean." 

"Ah!  you  would  never  pass  the  forts  below.  A 
telegraph  line  connects  them  with  the  city,  and 
orders  will  soon  be  sent  them  to  search  n  /cry  vessr"1 
leaving  the  Golden  Horn." 

"I  have  considered  that.  They  will  find  no  one  on 
board  the  Thistledown  but  the  captain  and  crew 
when  they  search." 

"Ah!  I  forgot — you  are  a  Yankee,  and  can   hood 
wink  a  Turk  every  day.  Well,  Senor  Jack  you  must 
have  much  to  do.     If  fortune  should   decide  that  we 
may  not  meet   agrain.  here's  my   hand,  and    success 
So  with  you.     Buenax  necht*." 


DOVTOX  JACK  263 

The  vision  at  tlie  little  window  disappears — Mer 
cedes  has  gone  to  battle  again  in  btx  rot  with  the 
great  sorrow  of  her  life,  and  Jack  gazes  only  at  the 
blank  white  walls  where  the  now  clpsed  trellis  shut 
ter  marks  the  fissure. 

He  has  received  a  lesson  on  this  night  be  will  not 
forget.  Henceforth  Jack  Evans  can  never  smile  de 
risively  when  a  woman's  name  is  spoken  in  connec 
tion  with  weakness,  for  he  has  seen  one  woman  rise 
above  the  level  of  her  sex  and  grasp  qualities  that 
draw  her  closer  to  Deity.  He  holds  his  breath  with 
awe  when  he  whispers  her  name,  for  she  has  sacri 
ficed  herself  in  order  to  assist  the  man  she  loves  and 
her  successful  rival.  Noble  Mercedes!  such  a 
woman  honors  Spain. 

All  this  while  Achmed,  the  faithful,  has  remained 
near  by  in  an  attitude  that  betokens  him  the  watch 
ful  servant.  He  does  not  comprehend  all  he  hears, 
but  quite  enough  to  have  a  broad  view  of  the  sub 
ject. 

Jack  now  joins  him,  and  together  they  make  for 
the  high  wall  of  the  garden.  The  Siberian  hounds 
still  howl  at  intervals,  and  Jack  hopes  nothing  may 
occur  to  let  them  loose  on  the  succeeding  night. 

He  is  more  than  ordinarily  nervous  over  this  affair 
— so  much  is  concerned  in  it,  and  there  are  BO  many 
chances  of  trouble,  any  one  of  which  must  upset 
their  calculations.  Never  before  has  he  experienced 
this  feeling,  but  then  the  events  of  the  last  week 
have  been  very  hard  on  even  his  iron  constitution, 
and  besides  this  is  the  first  time  Doctor  Jack  has 
been  in  love. 

They  reach  the  rope— the  bent  cypress  tree  proves 
a  good  guide,  and  the  wall  is  soon  left  behind  them, 


264  DOCTOR  JACfL 

until  the  succeeding  night  shall  once  mere  find  them 
at  iis  rocky  face. 

Jack  lias  little  to  say  as  they  trudge  back  again  to 
the  busy  haunts  of  Stamboul,  but  he  does  the  biggest 
kind  of  thinking,  arranging  the  many  little  details 
so  necessary  to  his  plans.  Larry  must,  of  cor.i>e, 
be  taken  into  his  confidence.  He  believes  the  dude 
has  been  having  a  good  time  all  day,  and  will  be 
ready  to  stand  by  him  on  the  night  when  Aleck's 
rescue  is  to  be  attempted. 

So  he  separates  from  Achmed  with  a  few  parting 
instructions,  delivered  sotto  voce,  which  that  good 
man  repeats,  showing  he  has  laid  them  to  his  heart. 
There  is  no  danger  of  his  failing  Doctor  Jack,  even 
if  the  American  asks  him  to  lay  down  his  life. 

When  Jack  enters  his  room  at  the  house,  he  finds 
Larry  in  bed,  but  the  latter  must  either  be  a  night 
ha\vk,  or  else  has  just  retired,  for  he  is  wide  awake. 
As  Jack  desires  sleep,  he  refuses  to  tell  anything 
about  what  he  has  done,  saying  the  morning  will  be 
time  enough — extinguishes  Larry  and  the  light  at 
one  and  the  same  time — and  has  hardly  rested  his 
tired  head  on  the  pillow  than  he  is  asleep,  thanks 
to  a  good  habit  picked  up  during  his  life  in  the  wil 
derness. 

Morning  dawns,  and  a  fairer  one  never  opened 
over  Constantinople.  The  sun  glints  the  domes  and 
minarets  of  many  a  mosque,  and  from  a  station 
near  by  an  aged  muezzin  laboriously  mounts  his 
eminence,  and  in  a  loud  cracked  voice  arouses  every 
sleeper  by  chanting  the  adan,  or  call  to  prayer — the 
faithful  Mussulman  has  a  dozen,  more  or  less, 
periods  during  the  day,  for  they  are  the  most  relig 
ious  people  in  the  world,  so  far  as.  form  goes,  ai:  i 
the  least  sanctimonious  when  it  comes  to  deeds. 


DQGTOR  JACK,  5*63 

Jack  and  Larry  descend  together — the  ladies  have 
not  yet  appeared,  so  at  the  open  windows  the  two 
gentlemen  sit  and  talk — it  is  too  early  for  a  smoke 
before  breakfast. 

By  degrees  T.arry  learns  all  that  has  happened 
since  their  arrival  in  Stamboul,  and  is  loud  in  his 
praises  of  Jack's  work.  He  declares  the  game  to  be 
so  far  advanced  and  so  well  managed  that  nothing 
short  of  accident  can  prevent  their  carrying  it  to  a 
successful  completion. 

While  they  talk  a  Turkish  messenger  arrives  at 
the  door  and  inquires  for  Lawrence  Kennedy.  Larry 
goes  out,  and  returning  a  minute  later  has  a  slip  of 
paper  in  his  hands. 

"What's  that?'"  asks  Jack,  suspiciously. 

"A  telegram — sent  from  the  office  to  me.  I  left 
word  to  have  it  delivered  this  A.  M.  Listen  while  I 
read  it:  'The  train  is  late — will  try  to  make  up  time 
to  day.'  That  is  a  good  joke.  It  is  due  to-night  -at 
ten.  The  chances  are  it  will  reach  here  by  to-mor 
row  morning,"  and  Larry  laughs  merrily,  while 
Jack  looks  at  him  in  wonder. 

"What  train  is  that?"  he  manages  to  ask. 

"The  one  that  bears  the  ferocious  Turk,"  conies 
the  startling  reply. 

"How  the  duse  did  you  know  he  was  on  that  train, 
Larry?"  Jack  demands. 

At  this  the  dude  winks,  strokes  his  diminutive 
mustache  gently  with  that  caressing  motion  known 
only  to  his  species,  and  drawls . 

"  'Pon  'onah!  Jack,  you've  gwown  quite  careless 
of  late.  Upon  my  awival  here  yesterday  I  found  this 
paper  on  the  table  in  our  room.  Putting  two  and 
two  together  make  foah,  don't  ye  see,  old  fellah!" 
and  he  flourishes  before  the  eyes  of  the  doctor  a  slip 


-US  VVGTVJK  JAGK 

of  paper  which  the  other  recognizes  as  the 
banded  over  by  the  operator  at  the  Hotel  de  Lou- 
<ii  es  on  the  previous  day,  from  the  chief  of  police  in 
Paris,  telling  when  the  pasha  left  that  city. 

"Ah!  I  see,  you  figured  it  out  as  well  as  I.     No 
harm  done,  Larry,  and   we  are  doubly  sure,  for  it 
never  entered  my  head  to  wire  back  along  the   line 
and  find  how  the  train  was  coming  on." 

Jack  is  well  pleased.  This  incident  goes  to  prove 
that  his  opinion  of  Larry  has  not  been  below  the 
mark  The  spruce  little  chap  has  the  making  of  a 
diplomat  in  his  way,  if  he  could  only  be  induced  to 
drop  the  ludicrous  habits  he  has  assumed  as  a  swell. 
Perhaps  these  are  only  used  to  conceal  sentiments 
that  he  does  not  care  for  the  whole  world  to  read — a 
sort  of  handy  cloak  such  as  the  chulos  flaunt  in  the 
face  of  the  bull  to  divert  bis  attention  from  an  im 
periled  picador. 

While  they  are  yet  talking,  breakfast  is  ready,  and 
the  ladies  appear.  Jack  fastens  his  eyes  on  Avis 
eagerly  and  hungrily— he  longs  to  tell  her  what 
Mercedes  has  said  and  done,  but  dares  not  without 
first  revealing  his  love.  It  would  be  pleasant  to  do 
this,  certain  as  he  is  that  his  affection  is  returned, 
but  the  time  and  place  are  hardly  fitting.  He  can 
wait.  If  success  crowns  his  efforts  the  reward  will 
be  all  the  more  grateful,  while  if  he  fails — well,  he 
cannot  see  how  any  mundane  affair  will  interest  a 
dead  man. 

So  they  sit  down  to  the  meal,  served  in  a  half 
Turkish  fashion,  and  yet  very  enjoyable  to  the  four 
who  partake. 


CHAPTER   XXIT. 

THE   TELEGRAM   LARKY   DID  NOT  RECEIVE. 

Again  Doctor  Jack  sees  a  busy  day  before  him. 
Much  has  to  be  done  in  order  that  all  arrangements 
shall  work  together  and  form  one  piece  of  mechan 
ism,  of  which  he  himself  must  be  the  master  key, 
but  Jack  finds  time  enough  for  an  interview  with 
Avis  after  breakfast  is  over. 

He  is  guarded  in  what  he  says,  as  he  does  not  want 
to  commit  himself  just  now,  feeling  that  it  would 
be  a  bid  for  his  services,  but  try  as  he  will  he  can 
not  keep  Avis  from  guessing  just  how  the  land  lies. 

She  is  filled  with  wonder  and  delight  at  what  he 
tells  her  concerning  Aleck,  and  plies  him  with  ques 
tions  he  is  unable  to  answer.  Then  comes  the  bal 
ance  of  the  story,  still  more  remarkable,  and  now 
she  is  very  quiet,  watching  Jack's  face,  as  though  it 
were  a  window  in  which  she  can  see  his  very 
thoughts  exposed. 

That  Mercedes  should  either  hate  or  love  her  is  a 
strange  thing,  and  can  only  be  accounted  for  upon 
one  hypothesis — the  Spanish  girl  looks  upon  her  in 
the  light  of  a  rival,  and  a  successful  one,  too,  or  she 
would  not  have  committed  social  hari  kari  by  becom 
ing  the  wife  of  the  pasha,  thus  forever  putting  her 
self  and  Doctor  Jack  apart. 

As  this  thought  comes  into  her  mind  Avis  realizes 
the  truth.  No  word  of  love  has  as  yet  passed  be 
tween  this  hero  and  herself,  and  she  is  even  now  in 
a  dreadful  state  of  suspense  regarding  his  feelings,  so 
it  is  only  natural  that,  like  a  true  woman,  she  should 


886  DOCTOR  JAOR. 

be  terribly  distressed  regarding  it  all,  and  blush 
furiously,  much  to  the  secret  delight  of  the  cruel 
Jack,  who  feasts  his  eyes  upon  the  scarlet  cheeks 
and  brow,  and  fights  savagely  within  his  breast 
to  keep  from  folding  her  in  his  arms. 

"Avis — Miss  Morton — I  am  off  now  on  business, 
but  if  this  affair  goes  through  all  right  I  have  some 
thing  I  want  to  tell  you.  Should  it  fail,  it  may  as 
well  remain  unspoken,"  and  he  turns  away  quickly. 

Avis  gives  one  hurried  glance  around — they  are 
alone  in  the  quaint  Turkish  parlor,  Larry  smoking 
outside  the  door  and  watching  the  crowds  swarm 
past,  Aunt  Sophie  up  in  her  room — so  Avis  draws 
a  long  breath  and  calls  softly : 

"Jack— Doctor  Evans!" 

He  wheels  immediately  and  comes  to  her  side, 

"What  can  I  do  for  you?" 

"You  spoke  of  a  secret;  is  it  very  important, 
then?"  shyly. 

"It  concerns  my  future — my  very  life,"  he  an 
swers,  looking  into  her  downcast  face. 

"Well,"  naively,  "you  talk  of  danger — of  possibly 
n»t  wanting  to  tell  it  later  on.  If  you  are  going  to 
be  killed,  don't  you  think  it  would  be  better  to  free 
your  mind  of  this  affair  beforehand?  Besides,  you 
know  I  would  like  to  remember  you  had  confided  in 
me — it  would  be  a  consolation  in  after  years.  There 
— what  more  can  I  say — I  who  have  condemned 
Mercedes — stupid  man,"  and  she  breaks  down  in 
confusion,  covering  her  rosy  face  with  her  hands. 

Jack  takes  them  gently  but  firmly  down,  and 
holds  them  prisoner.  How  they  flutter,  but  there  is 
no  attempt  at  escape. 

"Look  me  in  the  face,  Avis.  I  have  always  said 
I  wanted  your  eyes  to  be  on  mine  when  I  told  you 


DOCTOR  JACK  269 

my  secret.  I  love  you,  Avis,  God  alone  knows  how 
dearly.  This  is  110  news  to  you.  Your  heart  has 
told  vou  so  before  now.  I  thought  it  might  be  best 
uot  to  speak  of  this  until  we  had  won  or  lost,  but  the 
temptation  was  too  strong.  Tell  me  you  love  me, 
my  dear  girl,  it  will  give  me  new  strength  to  battle 
for  y our  brother." 

Of  course  she  does.  Who  could  resist  such  a  lover 
as  Doctor  Jack?  And,  forgetful  of  all  else,  they  sit 
and  talk  for  half  an  hour,  when  Larry  puts  his  head 
in  at  the  door,  and  expresses  intense  surprise  at  the 
couple.  Jack  calls  him  in  and  gravely  announces 
the  new  compact  that  has  been  formed,  whereat 
the  dude  capers  around  the  room  on  his  toes  with 
all  the  graces  of  a  premier  danseuse,  and  declares 
himself  delighted. 

"If  I  cawn't  have  Avis  myself,  'pon  'onah,  there's 
nobody  else  deserves  her  but  you,  old  boy,"  he  cries, 
slapping  Jack  on  the  back  patronizingly,  at  which 
that  Hercules  smiles. 

Then  Jack  suddenly  remembers  how  time  is  pass 
ing,  and  so  much  to  be  done.  Making  love  is  all 
very  good  in  its  place,  but  when  the  war  is  on,  the 
lover  must  leave  tender  scenes  for  a  more  opportune 
period,  and  face  the  enemy.  So  he  temporarily  says 
good-by  to  Avis,  and  as  Larry  has  good-naturedly 
trotted  outside,  of  course  this  gives  another  opportu 
nity  for  a  kiss — it  is  really  surprising  how  many 
such  chances  arise  among  lovers. 

At  last  Jack  is  off.  He  realizes  how  hard  it  is  to 
part  from  Avis,  now  that  she  has  given  him  the  right 
to  call  her  his  own  true  love,  but  Jack  is  inclined  to 
be  somewhat  philosophical,  even  in  affairs  of  this 
kind,  and  grimly  sets  his  mind  upon  the  stern  duty 
in  hand. 


«70  DOCTOR  JACK 

Nevertheless,  many  times  during  the  day  he  is 
seen  to  smile  when  there  may  be  nothing  visible  to 
cause  such  action — his  thoughts  revert  to  the  morn 
ing's  scene,  and  bring  him  pleasant  visions.  He  al 
ready  begins  to  experience  the  joys  of  a  new  life — it 
seems  to  him  that  he  could  never  have  more  than 
half  lived  before. 

Nevertheless,  he  puts  in  a  good  solid  day's  work, 
and  everything  he  does  is  carried  out  well.  To  fol 
low  him  on  his  round  would  be  the  best  way  in  which 
we  might  ascertain  what  he  managed  to  perform. 

Passing  along  the  street,  he  enters  a  bazar,  and  is 
halted  by  a  cry  of  "Fezes,  in  the  name  of  the 
Prophet,  fezes."  This  is  the  man  he  desires  to  see, 
and  soon  a  bargain  is  struck — Jack  buys  a  dozen  of 
the  Turks'  headgear — a  ridiculous  thing  it  is,  too, 
warm  in  summer  and  cold  in  winter,  with  nothing 
to  shade  the  eyes — still,  no  one  ever  comes  back  from 
the  Orient  without  a  red  fez,  to  be  used  as  a  smok 
ing  cap,  perhaps. 

Jack  has  no  design  upon  the  national  headgear  of 
the  Turks,  nor  is  he  endeavoring  to  get  up  a  corner 
in  fezes,  but  he  bears  in  mind  that  he  will  want  a 
boat's  crew  from  the  yacht  ashore  that  night,  and 
if  they  wear  this  covering  on  their  heads  they  may 
be  mistaken  for  Turks,  and  thus  a  false  clew  given 
that  will  be  of  value  later  on. 

Jack  now  proceeds  to  the  water's  edge.  The  hand 
some  little  Thistledown  is  riding  to  her  anchor  not 
a  hundred  yards  away,  and  a  whistle  attracts  atten 
tion  on  her  deck.  A  boat  drops  into  the  water  and 
makes  for  the  shore — not  pulled  by  brawny  sailors — 
that  day  is  past  among  yacht  owners,  for  every  well 
established  yacht  now  has  as  a  tender  a  twenty-one 
or  twenty-five  foot  naphtha  launch  hanging  upon 


DOCTOR  JACK.  271 

davits.  If  the  captain  desires  to  go  ashore  a  match 
is  applied  to  the  generator,  a  few  strokes  of  the 
pump  given,  and  by  the  time  the  launch  drops  into 
the  water  the  motive  power  is  ready  that  will  drive 
the  little  beauty  at  the  rate  of  ten  miles  an  hour 
through  a  respectable  sea.  It  is  a  pleasure  to  know 
that  these  wonderful  engines  are  a  Yankee  inven 
tion,  and  made  right  in  New  York  city. 

The  launch  puts  for  the  shore  with  but  one  man  in 
her — it  is  the  captain,  who  has  wisely  imagined  his 
new  master  may  desire  to  have  a  private  conversa 
tion  with  him,  and  where  can  a  better  place  be 
found  than  while  driving  about  upon  the  blue 
waters  of  the  quiet  Golden  Horn? 

Jack  takes  to  the  idea,  and  for  an  hour  they  glide 
hither  and  thither,  while  the  American  talks  and 
impresses  several  facts  distinctly  upon  the  mind  of 
the  captain — that  he  is  to  have  a  boat  rowed  by  four 
Jack  Tars  at  a  certain  point  at  a  particular  time,  to 
the  minute — the  yacht  is  to  be  anchored  also  at  a 
place  Jack  points  out,  where  a  black  buoy  marks 
some  limit — each  of  the  men  is  to  wear  a  fez.  and 
look  as  much  like  a  Turk  as  possible,  and  from  the 
time  of  leaving  the  yacht  until  on  board  again,  the 
man  who  utters  a  word  in  English  above  a  whisper 
will  lose  all  share  in  the  reward,  which  is  to  be  a 
liberal  one  given  to  all  the  crew  when  they  are  safe 
beyond  the  clutches  of  the  Turk. 

Having  arranged  all  these  particulars  with  the 
English  captain,  Doctor  Jack  gives  the  order,  and 
the  little  launch  is  headed  for  the  yacht  in  order 
that  he  may  see  what  had  been  done  in  carrying 
out  his  directions. 

An  examination  causes  Jack  to  feet  easier.  If 
Aleck  can  be  gotten  on  board  the  yacht  in  time,  he 


272  BOtl'OR  JACK. 

believes  their  safety  is  assured,  for  the  hiding-place 
between  the  bulkheads  has  been  so  nicely  arranged 
that  even  the  most  suspicious  would  not  guess  its 
nature.  It  has  the  appearance  of  a  large  reservoir 
for  fresh  water.  The  ingenious  captain  has  even 
placed  a  faucet  at  one  point,  with  a  keg  of  water  on 
the  other  side,  in  order  to  further  the  deception. 

Jack  is  not  slow  to  praise  the  work,  and  the  cap 
tain  glows  with  pleasure  to  find  his  labor  appre 
ciated  by  his  chief.  Having  made  further  arrange 
ments  with  regard  to  having  a  boat  meet  them  at 
Seraglio  Point  just  after  dusk,  to  take  the  ladies 
aboard,  he  goes  ashore. 

Achmed  is  his  next  victim,  and  a  short  consulta 
tion  between  the  two  results  in  a  further  advance  of 
the  plot.  The  time  wears  on  apace,  and  it  will  not 
be  long  ere  they  may  know  just  how  successful  the 
plan  is  to  be,  and  whether  Aleck  Morton  will  escape, 
or  leave  his  bones  to  whiten  on  Turkish  ground. 

Having  nothing  more  to  do  at  present  Jack  heads 
toward  the  house — he  has  eaten  a  meal  in  the  mid 
dle  of  the  afternoon,  and  it  now  lacks  but  an  hour 
or  so  of  evening. 

Avis  is  watching  for  him.  There  need  be  no  more 
secrecy  between  them  now,  for  they  have  confessed 
all  their  little  shortcomings  to  each  other,  and  are 
open  lovers.  Jack's  mind  is  full  of  business,  how 
ever,  and  he  cannot  dally  long,  no  matter  how 
pleasant  it  may  be  in  the  company  of  this  fair  girl 
•from  over  the  sea.  He  asks  Avis  a  question. 

"Do  you  suppose  you  and  Aunt  Sophie  could  get 
•what  articles  of  clothing  you  may  need  until  we 
roach  Rome,  in  my  portmanteau?" 

W^at  a  terrible  question  to  ask  a  young  girl  de 
sirous  of  appearing  well  in  the  eyes  of  her  lover,  but 


DOCTOR  JAGK.  273 

Avis  looks  him  straight  in  the  eyes,  and  says 
bravely : 

"Yes,  if  you  will  promise  not  to  tire  of  seeing  me 
in  the  same  dress  day  after  day." 

"You  look  charming  in  anything.  We  have  no 
time  to  lose,  dear  Avis.  Go  to  your  room,  and  ex 
plain  to  aunty.  In  five  minutes  I  will  have  the 
portmanteau  at  your  door.  In  fifteen  you  must  have 
your  trunk  packed  so  that  1  can  take  it  to  the  rail 
way  station,  and  ship  it  to  Rome,  which,  I  guess,  is 
a  possible  thing." 

"Oh!  Jack,  what  if  it  should  be  lost." 

"Save  your  little  keep-sakes.  As  for  dresses  and 
millinery,  we  can  replace  them  at  Rome — they  may 
be  your  wedding  trousseau.  Now,  make  all  the 
haste  possible,  dear  girl.  Every  minute  counts." 

He  goes  to  his  own  room,  and  collars  Larry,  who 
is  set  to  work  on  his  own  small  trunk.  For  a  time 
great  energy  is  displayed,  At  the  end  of  the  fifteen 
minutes  the  two  trunks  are  carried  off  to  the  rail 
way  station  by  Jack,  who  has,  through  Achmed, 
engaged  a  vehicle  by  the  hour.  He  finds  they  can 
be  sent  to  Rome,  and  that  is  one  load  off  his  mind. 

As  he  returns  in  the  vehicle  to  the  house  it  begins 
to  grow  dusk.  The  time  is  near  when  they  must 
depart.  Jack  has  been  wise  enough  to  have  Achmed 
as  a  driver.  Another  man  might  have  learned  too 
much  and  betrayed  them  finally  to  the  pasha  for 
a  consideration. 

Reaching  the  house.  Jack  joins  in  the  meal  then 
being  served.  The  ladies  have  their  hats  on,  and 
are  all  ready  for  traveling.  Avis  looks  anxious  but 
brave,  and  did  Jack  call  upon  her  to  aid  him  in  his 
desperate  plans  she  is  in  a  smrit  to  meet  him  half 
way. 


JAV&. 

At  last  they  enter  the  old  vehicle—  the  best  Ach- 
med  could  pick  up  in  Starnboul,  wheie  porters  carry 
loads  instead  of  beasts  of  burden,  and  donkeys  take 
the  place  of  horses  very  generally,  although  many 
Turkish  officers  own  Arabian  steeds. 

'The  ride  is  a  quiet  one — indeed,  conversation  could 
r,ot  be  carried  on  in  the  lumbering  old  vehicle,  that 
pitches  and  tosses  terribly. 

Avis  is  content  to  sit  beside  Jack.  In  the  darkness 
he  has  an  arm  around  her,  and  holds  her  hand 
in  his.  He  does  not  know  whether  Heaven  will  be 
kind  enough  to  let  him  look  on  this  love  of  his  a^ain, 
and  the  thoughts  that  flock  in  his  mind  are  solemn 
ones. 

At  length  the  horrible  lurching,  so  like  a  ship 
riding  out  a  heavy  sea  at  anchor,  ceases,  and  Ach- 
med  comes  to  let  them  out.  They  have  arrived,  the 
lights  on  the  water  show  where  various  ships  are 
lying  at  anchor,  and  Jack  eagerly  points  out  one 
particularly  bright  gleam,  saying : 

"That  is  our  yacht,  Avis.  We  shall  take  our  wed 
ding  trip  in  her."  at  which  she  laughs  a  little, 
though  too  serious  just  now  to  think  of  much  levity. 

The  boat  is  quickly  found,  the  portmanteau  and 
ladies,  pat  aboard,  a  few  words  exchanged,  a  low 
order  of  "let  fall,  lads,"  given,  and  they  separate. 
Jack  draws  a  long  breath  of  relief — at  least  Avis  is 
safe  from  the  clutches  of  the  pasha.  He  has  had  a 
strong  id  -a  all  along  that  it  is  Abdallan's  intention 
to  put  another  nail  in  Aleck's  coffin  by  scheming  to 
get  possession  of  his  sister  by  fair  means  or  foul, 
and  this  accounts  for  Jack's  manifest  delight  at 
having  cheated  the  Turkish  o^re  of  his  prey — yes, 
thank  God,  Avis  is  sate,  no  matter  what  happens  to 
him. 


DOVTVli  JACK  275 

Bo,  with  something  of  a  light  heart  he  takes  Larry 
with  him,  and  heads  in  the  direction  of  the  pasha's 
great  wall.  Achmed  is  given  time  to  temporarily 
dispose  of  the  vehicle.  Some  one  is  found  who  will 
see  that  the  antiquated  affair — half  way  between  a 
Russian  drosky  and  a  Parisian  cabriolet — is  taken 
back  to  the  owner,  who  has  already  been  paid  for 
its  use. 

When  the  old  Turk  rejoins  them  it  is  close  on  the 
time  set  for  action.  Larry  has  just  remembered 
something  that  annoys  him,  and  hearing  the  dude 
muttering,  Jack  asks  the  reason. 

"I'm  a  fool,"  the  other  replies,  shortly. 

Now,  there  are  times  when  it  does  not  do  for  a 
man  to  disagree  with  a  friend's  opinion  of  himself, 
and  whatever  Jack  may  think  he  wisely  keeps  to 
himself,  only  saying: 

"How's  that,  Larry?" 

"I  left  word  for  another  telegram  from  up  the 
road,  regarding  the  train,  and  meant  to  call  for  it 
this  evening,  but,  bless  my  soul,  I  forgot  all  about 
it."  he  laments,  dismally,  as  though  conscious  of 
having  lost  prestige. 

"Never  mind — we'll  guess  at,  it.  Say  the  old  slow 
poke  express  will  be  four  hours  late — that  means 
two  A.  M.  What  do  you  call  it?" 

"I'd  make  it  day b weak,  judging  from  the  experi 
ence  we've  had,"  replies  Larry. 

Both  wrong,  gentlemen.  Since  last  heard  from 
that  delayed  train  has  broken  the  record.  The 
pasha  has  bought  the  officers  in  charge  oody  and 
soul,  and  the  rails  have  become  actually  hot  under 
the  flight  of  the  express  eastward.  From  this  time 
on  it  will  be  known  as  the  Flying  Turk. 

The  whistle  that  our  friends  hear  in   the   distance 


276  DOCTOR  JACK. 

as  they  Halt  under  the  wall  actually  announces  the 
arrival  of  the  express  within  three  miles  of  Stam- 
boul.  It  will  draw  up  to  the  station  exactly  on  time. 
This  gives  a  chance  of  complicating  matters.  There 
is  a  prospect  of  a  lively  time  ahead. 

Jack  and  the  two  with  him  mount  the  wall  in  the 
same  way  as  on  the  preceding  night,  the  rope  serv 
ing  them  a  good  turu.  Instead  of  going  directly 
toward  the  palace,  they  turn  in  the  quarter  where 
Jack  and  Aleck  wrestled  with  the  Turk's  janizaries 
on  the  occasion  of  their  former  visit,  when  Aleck 
was  captured. 

In  a  short  time  they  reach  the  shore,  where  the 
little  waves  are  chasing  each  other  over  the  pebbly 
beach  with  a  gentle  lapping  sound.  Jack  looks  out 
over  the  darkened  water,  but  can  see  no  yacht.  If 
she  is  anchored  at  the  buoy  still  she  has  doused  her 
riding  lights,  so  that  her  position  may  not  be  known. 

Is  the  boat's  crew  ashore?  He  walks  along  a  short 
distance,  until  a  boat  turned  bottom  up  is  sighted. 
This  is  the  place  agreed  on  as  a  rendezvous  between 
them.  Jack  gives  a  signal,  and  a  dark  figure  rises 
up  from  behind  the  overturned  boat  like  a  goblin. 

"That  you,  captain'*  asks  Jack,  in  low  tones. 

"Yes,  sir,"  comes  the  guarded  reply. 

A  few  sentences  pass  between  them,  and  Jack 
understands  that  all  is  in  readiness,  waiting  for  the 
signal.  The  men  are  dressed  like  Turks,  so  that 
should  they  be  3een  it  will  be  believed  they  come 
from  Stamboul,  and  are  thither  bound  again. 

Satisfied  with  this,  Jack  again  seeks  his  two  com 
panions,  and  they  turn  toward  the  palace.  Some 
how  he  seems  to  feel  a  heavy  weight  upon  his  spirits 
— he  cannot  tell  what  caivses  it,  but  the  uneasiness  is 
there. 


&OGTOR  JACK.  WT7 

"Larry,  are  you  armed?"  he  asks,  quietly. 

"Yes,  but  you  don't  think  we're  going  to  have  a 
wumpus,  do  you?  To  my  mind  the  coast  seems  clear 
as  midday,"  returns  the  dude,  wondering  what  has 
eome  over  the  usual  philosophical  Jack,  and  laying 
his  nervousness  at  love's  door. 

"I  don't  know.  I  seem  to  feel  it  in  my  bones  that 
we  won't  get  out  of  this  without  some  excitement, 
and  I  believe  in  being  ready.  Yonder  loom  up  the 
palace  walls.  Forward  all,  to  rescue  Aleck — then 
we're  off  on  the  blue  sea." 

Not  so  fast,  Doctor  Jack — some  things  are  easier 
said  than  done,  you  know. 


JACK. 


CHAPTER  XXIIL 
"ON  TO  THE  HAREM!" 

The  bells  have  rung  out  the  hour  before  Jack  and  his 
friends  leave  the  beach,  so  it  is  a  little  after  ten  when 
they  come  in  sight  of  the  palace  walls.  At  this 
very  moment  a  vehicle  is  being  driven  from  the 
railroad  depot  to  the  palace  of  the  rich  pasha  as  fast 
as  a  fee  of  a  dozen  gold  medjidies  can  urge  the 
driver  to  hasten.  In  this  carriage  three  men  are 
seated — we  have  seen  them  all  before — Abdallah 
Pasha,  Don  Carlos,  and  the  matador,  Pedro  Vasquez. 
The  last  has  come  a  long  way  for  revenge,  but  he 
has  entered  the  service  of  the  Turk,  and  bidden 
farewell  forever  to  Madrid,  whose  fickle  populace 
would  never  greet  him  save  with  jeers  after  that 
last  unfortunate  engagement  with  the  black  toro 
that  Senor  Jack  slew. 

Unless  our  friends  are  exceedingly  active  in  their 
work,  they  will  hear  something  drop.  The  furious 
Turk  is  rushing  home  as  if  some  intuition  has 
warned  him  of  danger.  When  he  arrives  at  his 
own  a  whirlwind  will  break  loose. 

Doctor  Jack  is  the  first  to  reach  the  palace  wall. 
He  has  noticed  particularly  where  the  spot  is,  and 
marked  it,  so  that  a  minute  later  he  bends  down  to 
feel  for  the  grating.  There  it  is,  sure  enough,  just  as 
he  believed.  How  quickly  the  athletic  American 
secures  a  strong  clutch  of  the  bars — he  braces  him 
self  for  a  grand  effort — no  man  in  Abdallah  Pasha's 
employ  could  accomplish  such  a  feat,  but  Jack's 
greatest  power  lies  in  his  hips  and  back. 


JA(,K.  *79 

As  Achmed  and  Larry  come  up,  the  former  with  a 
fc^nall  iron  bar  he  has  brought  for  the  purpose,  they 
hear  a  crackling  sound. 

'•What's  that?"  demands  the  dude,  suspiciously. 

"I  have  torn  the  grating  from  its  socket,"  replies 
Jack,  breathing  hard,  and  yet  speaking  as  though 
it  were  nothing  of  much  consequence. 

"  Ton  'onah,  now,  that's  hardly  fair,  <  Id  boy, 
wobbin'  me  of  my  laurels.  You  should  have  let  me 
have  a  chawnce." 

"Hark,  man!" 

"Jack!" 

The  voice  comes  from  the  depths,  and  thrills 
them.  Aleck  is  still  alive — their  mission  promises  to 
be  a  success — at  any  rate,  they  have  made  a  grand 
start,  which  means  much.  So  Doctor  Jack  bends 
down  and  calls  softly : 

"Aleck — I  say,  old  man,  we're  here — all's  well. 
Come  up  the  stairs  and  see  us." 

They  hear  a  chuckling  laugh  below.  Aleck  has 
lived  the  last  twenty-four  hours,  Heaven  alone 
knows  how,  but  with  alternate  hope  and  fear — a 
mental  fever  and  ague,  as  it  were — hope  sending  a 
warm  wave  over  him,  and  dread  succeeding  it  with 
a  raw  chill. 

They  listen  to  him  climbing  the  wall — he  is  in 
such  haste  that  he  overdoes  the  matter  and  slips 
back. 

"Are  you  hurt?"  calls  Jack,  in  alarm. 

"No,  no,"  bravely  repressing  a  groan,  "only  a  lit 
tle  bark  on  my  shoulder.  I'm  with  you  in  a  minute,, 
doctor.  Have  your  hand  ready — I'm  dying  to  grasp 
it  again — poor  devil  that  I  am,  not  fit  to  be  seen  by 
'any  woman  save  Avis— dear  Avis.  A.li !  where  are 
you,  old  Jack,  the  bravest  and  best  friend  a  man 


260  DOCTOR  JAUK. 

ever  had.  That's  right — draw  me  out.  Two  of  you, 
eh?  This  is  freedom.  How  good  the  air  feels  after 
months  in  that  vile  den.  Shake  hands,  Doctor  Jack, 
my  preserver,  my  brother.  Who  is  this?  It  seems 
to  me — no,  it  can't  be,  and  yet — yes,  by  the  powers 
it's.  Cousin  Larry.  Glad  to  see  you,  my  boy.  but 
you're  the  last  person  I  ever  expected  to  have  help 
me  out  of  a  Turkish  dungeon." 

"I'm  on  deck,  Aleck,"  says  Larry,  smartly. 

"Yes,  and  Larry  has  proved  an  honor  to  the  fam 
ily.  As  I  soon  expect  to  be  a  member  of  it,  I  must 
say  I'm  proud  of  him,  "  declares  Jack. 

"Avis  is  not  here?" 

"She  is  on  the  boat  with  Madame  Sophie,  and  the 
sooner  we  get  there  the  better  it  will  be." 

Jack  has  not  lost  his  feeling  of  uneasiness,  even 
though  the  affair  seems  to  be  going  on  so  smoothly 
just  now.  Often  the  worst  storms  we  have  are 
heralded  by  peculiar  symptoms  in  the  air— a  sultry 
feeling,  dead  silence,  and  a  sort  of  unnatural  calm — 
so  with  Jack — he  detects  some  such  signs  in  the 
horizon  of  their  affairs,  and  although  he  cannot  tell 
where  the  storm  will  come  from,  or  when  it  will 
break,  he  feels  uneasy. 

"And  this  is  liberty — oh,  how  sweet  to  breathe  the 
pure  air  again — to  see  the  blue  vault  above.  A  man 
n^ver  knows  how  grand  a  thing  liberty  may  be 
until  he  is  shut  up  in  darkness  for  a  month  or  two. 
Good-bv,  old  dungeon ;  sooner  than  return  to  your 
fetid  arms  I  will  meet  death  in  any  form." 

Thus  apostrophizing  his  late  chamber,  Aleck, 
once  so  full  of  life  and  spirits,  now  a  thin,  weak  lad, 
turns  to  his  friends. 

"We're  ready  to  go.  Take  my  arm,  Aleck,  and 
let  me  help  you,"  says  Jack. 


DOCTOR  JACK.  28T 

"Wait!" 

At  the  word  Jack  feels  a  chill-  -what  he  has  ex. 
pected  is  about  to  happen.  He  can  jump  at  conclus 
ions  about  as  fast  as  any  man,  and  already  he 
guesses  what  Aleck  would  say. 

"I  thank  you  from  my  heart,  friends,  for  the 
trouble  you  have  taken  to  save  me.  While  I  live 
you  will  ever  be  in  my  memory,  dear  to  me  above  all 
other  friends,  but  I  have  made  a  vow — a  sacred  vow 
that  must  be  kept." 

"What  is  it?"  asks  Larry. 

Jack  does  not  put  a  question,  for  he  can  guess,  it 
is  the  old  story  over  again — a  woman  led  Aleck  into 
this  scrape,  and  now  he  is  resolved  to  commit  the 
same  blunder  again.  Jack  is  in  love  himself,  and 
can  in  a  measure  excuse  Aleck,  but  he  does  not  be 
lieve  the  latter  can  care  for  his  Sady  as  he,  the  doc 
tor,  dues  for  Avis. 

"I  shall  not  leave  the  palace  grounds  without 
Sady,"  says  Aleck,  firmly. 

Jack  groans.  Precious  minutes  are  passing,  and 
the  pasha  will  soon  be  on  hand,  when  the  very  duse 
must  be  to  pay.  Aleck  is  wonderfully  stubborn,  as 
every  one  knows,  even  his  prison  life  has  not  cured 
him  of  that,  for  "what's  bred  in  the  bone  can't  be 
beat  out  of  the  flesh." 

There  is  only  one  thing  to  do — carry  out  Aleck's 
wishes,  and  the  sooner  they  get  at  the  matter  the 
better  for  all  concerned.  Jack  comes  to  the  front 
again  ready  for  immediate  action. 

"Was  she  coming  here,  Aleck?"  he  demands. 

"Yes." 

"Tell  me  just  when?" 

"You  heard  the  bells  ring  a  little  while  back— she 
generally  reaches  here  just  after  that  time,  and  may 


282  DOCTOR  JACK. 

arrive  at  any  moment  now.  I  am  sure  she  is  on  the 
way." 

"We  can't  wait  here,  but  may  meet  her.  The 
harem  lies  yonder — that  extension  at  the  end  of  the 
palace.  Come,  all  follow  me." 

"Listen!  what  is  that?" 

At  Larry's  words  all  stop  and  enoeavor  to  dis 
cover  what  he  means.  It  is  not  at  all  difficult,  for  the 
night  air  is  still,  and  the  sounds  are  very  distinct, 
indeed. 

A  vehicle  of  some  sort  is  whirling  along  the 
graveled  drive  leading  to  the  palace  gates.  The 
loud  voice  of  the  driver  can  be  heard  as  he  urges  his 
animals  on.  Then  it  stops,  the  gates  are  reached, 
a  voice  roars  out  some  ferocious  order  in  the  Turk 
ish  tongue.  Our  friends  look  at  each  other  in  the 
semi-gloom,  consternation  seizes  Larry,  while  Jack 
shuts  his  teeth  with  a  snap. 

"The  pasha  has  come!"  he  grinds  out. 

"Great  Scott!  that  train  made  up  the  lost  time!'1 
hoarsely  whispers  Larry.  This  event  seems  to  strike 
him  in  a  more  singular  light  than  the  actual  pres 
ence  of  their  enemy. 

There  is  still  time  enough  for  them  to  fly.  The 
shore  line  can  be  reached  before  their  foes  may  over 
take  them,  and  the  boat,  manned  by  the  arms  of  stal 
wart  British  tars,  will  quickly  carry  them  to  the 
yacht. 

Jack  makes  the  attempt,  even  while  doubtful  as 
regards  the  result. 

"We  must  fly,"  he  says,  grasping  one  of  Aleck  a 
arms. 

"Leave  me,  my  friends,"  begs  the  other. 

"Not  much.  We  came  here  to  save  you,  and, 
Aleck,  old  fellow,  you  must  come  with  UR.' 


DOCTOR  JACK.  283 

"I  cannot,"'  groans  the  wretched  lad — liberty 
seems  so  close,  and  yet  he  will  not  stretch  out  his 
hand  to  grasp  it. 

"Nonsense !  Perhaps  we  may  at  some  future  time 
save  the  girl.  Remember  Avis,  Aleck." 

He  takes  a  few  steps,  stops,  and  holds  back. 

"No,  no,  I  have  sworn.  I  cannot,  must  not,  will 
not  desert  her.  She  has  vowed  to  kill  herself  if  I 
die  or  leave  her — she  loves  me  so.  Go,  I  beg  of  you, 
leave  me  here  to  have  one  turn  at  that  devil  before 
they  kill  me." 

His  entreaties  are  useless. 

"If  there's  any  killing  to  be  done  I  must  take  a 
hand  in  it  myself,"  declares  Doctor  Jack,  drawing 
out  the  revolver  with  which  he  can  put  six  balls  at 
twenty  paces  in  a  circle  two  inches  in  diameter — the 
Bennetts  being  his  only  rivals  in  all  America. 

Here  is  a  pretty  kettle  of  fish.  Aleck  positively 
refuses  to  advance,  and  the  pasha  is  raising  Hail 
Columbia  at  the  entrance.  He  must  speedily  get  in, 
and  then  look  out  for  squalls.  What  can  be  done? 
Jack  has  half  a  notion  to  pick  Aleck  up  and  carry 
him  off  like  a  rebellious  child.  He  is  quite  capable  of 
it,  but  refrains  simply  becau«e  he  does  not  care  to 
save  a  man  against  his  will,  and  Aleck  would  be 
back  here  at  the  first  opportunity,  determined  to  get 
Sady  or  die. 

For  once  in  his  life  Doctor  Jack  is  puzzled — he 
d*>es  not  know  what  to  do,  and  precious  seconds  are 
flying  all  the  while.  Even  now  it  is  probably  too 
late.  From  the  sounds  that  reach  their  ears  they  are 
informed  that  the  pasha  has  gained  an  entrance, 
and  is  raging  about,  asking  a  dozen  questions  at 
once  of  his  astonished  and  alarrred  retainers,  who 
probably  imagine  their  master  has  gone  crazy. 


ttfe  DOCTOR  JACK. 

Even  while  they  hearken  a  new  sound  adds  to  the 
clamor.  Doctor  Jack  gives  a  start  as  the  truth 
breaks  upon  him. 

"Great  Heaven !  they  have  let  loose  the  pack  of 
Siberian  wolf-hounds.  The  animals  will  clear  the. 
garden,  and  be  upon  us  like  a  flash!*'  he  cries. 

"  'Pon  'onah!  I  hear  them  coming  now,"  say  a 
Larry,  without  any  apparent  alarm.  He,  too,  has 
drawn  a  revolver,  which  he  places  in  readiness  tot 
fire  with  a  movement  of  his  thumb.  Achmed,  shrink 
ing  back  for  an  instant  as  the  awful  clamor  of  the 
gaunt  brutes  breaks  on  his  ears,  again  braces  up  the 
line  of  battle,  holding  in  his  clenched  hands  the 
heavy  iron  bar  which  was  intended  to  raise  the  dun 
geon  grating,  but  which  can  doubtless  be  made  to 
do  good  service  in  the  line  of  a  peace  persuader,  if  it 
ever  comes  in  contact  with  the  cranium  of  a  hound. 

There  can  be  no  mistaking  the  fact  that  the  dogs 
are  advancing  directly  upon  them,  for  the  rush  of 
the  animals  through  the  shrubbery  is  plainly  heard. 
In  the  darkness  they  may  have  trouble  sighting 
their  canine  foes.  Jack  sees  a  light  streaming  from 
a  narrow  window,  and  guesses  the  friendly  source 
from  which  it  comes. 

Quick  to  take  advantage  of  an  opportunity,  he 
calls  out  in  a  low,  strained  tone : 

"Back  a  few  paces.  Get  the  lane  of  light  in  front, 
BO  we  can  see  the  brutes.  Quick !  for  the  love  of 
Heaven,  men." 

They  are  none  too  soon.  Like  a  tornado  rushing 
through  a  Western  forest  the  pasha's  pack  of  fierce 
wolf-hounds  dart  toward  the  little  group.  They 
utter  few  yelps,  but  their  eager  silence  is  terrioly 
suggestive.  The  sound  of  their  swift  passage  re 
sembles  the  sweep  of  the  wind. 


DOCTOR  JA&K.  28& 

A  brief  moment  of  suspense,  and  then  the  dread 
event  is  upon  them.  Jack  sights  the  first  brute.  His 
weapon  is  aimed,  and  the  hand  that  never  yet  failed 
its  master  presses  the  trigger.  One — the  brute  drops 
like  a  weight  of  lead,  but  the  others  flash  into  view 
all  at  once — revolvers  rattle,  fierce  howls  arise,  and 
for  a  brief  time  a  tremendous  melee  ensues. 

It  is  a  slaughter-pen  for  the  wolf-dogs,  and  yet  by 
rery  numbers  they  make  it  hot  work  for  the  little 
party  of  brave  men.  Several  manage  to  pass  the 
line  of  light.  One  Achmed  belabors  with  the  iron 
bar,  another  endeavors  to  reach  the  throat  of  Doc 
tor  Jack.  Poor  fool,  it  meets  that  iron  left  arm  on 
the  way,  the  fingers  close  on  its  neck,  he  crunches 
the  larynx  as  though  it  were  made  of  paper,  and 
tosses  the  quivering  body  of  the  wolf-dog  from  him 
in  a  moment. 

The  rush,  the  whirl,  the  disaster — all  is  over  in  an 
exceedingly  brief  space  of  time.  Scarce  forty  sec 
onds  have  elapsed  since  the  first  dog  broke  cover 
and  attempted  to  cross  that  heaven-sent  banner  of 
light  from  the  window,  and  now  not  a  single  mem 
ber  of  that  fierce  pack  is  left.  Achmed,  aroused  to 
fury,  still  hammers  the  shapeless  head  of  his  victim 
with  the  iron  bludgeon,  but  the  wretched  hound 
never  knew  what  ailed  him  after  receiving  the  first 
blow. 

Larry  is  flushed  with  victory. 

"Bring  on  your  dogs!"  he  calls  out  aloud. 

"Not  so  fast,"  cautious  Doctor  Jack,  "the  next  im 
pediment  we  run  across  will  probably  be  a  small 
army  of  janizaries,  armed  with  more  deadly 
weapons  than  drgs'  teeth.  If  you  have  any  tears  to 
shed  prepare  to  shed  them  now,  and  meanwhile  it 
might  be  a  good  idea  to  slip  in  a  few  cartridges." 


2M  DOCTOfi  JACK. 

The  suggestion  is  a  good  one,  which  Larry  cannot 
afford  to  neglect.  Jack  casts  a  side  glance  at  Aleck. 
What  will  that  worthy  do  now?  Is  there  any  possi 
bility  that  he  has  changed  his  mind  and  may  accom 
pany  them?  Useless— Aleck  possesses  the  blood  of 
his  Scotch  ancestors  in  his  veins,  and  there  never 
lived  a  more  stubborn  individual.  If  they  want 
him  to  fly  they  must  find  Sady. 

"On  to  the  harem!"  grits  Jack  between  his  teeth. 
He  is  thoroughly  aroused  now,  after  the  engage 
ment  with  the  wolf-hounds,  and  nothing  daunts  his 
spirit.  Since  Aleck  will  not  go  without  Sady  they 
must  find  the  pasha's  prize  even  if  the  whole  palace, 
harem  and  seraglio,  have  to  be  searched,  with  the 
janizaries  howling  at  their  heels.  That  is  the  kind 
of  man  Jack  Evans  is  when  once  he  makes  up  his 
mind — mountains  cannot  stay  his  progress,  and  or 
dinary  obstacles  are  brushed  from  his  path  as  a  man 
might  dash  a  fly  from  his  forehead. 

Larry  is  ready  to  fall  in  behind,  and  as  for  Aleck, 
the  cry  enthuses  him.  He  seems  to  regain  his  lost 
strength,  forgets  he  is  wounded  from  the  fall  he  re 
ceived  in  the  dungeon,  and  presses  on  at  the  side  of 
Achmed,  who  will  go  wherever  his  beloved  master 
wills,  be  it  into  the  grasp  of  death  even,  so  long  as 
Jack  leads. 

As  they  mi  ve  hurriedly  away  the  wildest  kind  of 
clamor  arises,  dozens  of  hoarse-tongued  men  shout 
unintelligible  words  in  a  fierce  Turkish  fashion. 
Abdallah  Pasha  has  ordered  his  janizaries  into  the 
gardens — they  have  orders  to  cut  and  slay  right  and 
left,  sparing  no  stranger  whom  they  may  find. 

The  case  looks  dark,  indeed,  for  our  friends,  as  it 
will  be  utterly  impossible  for  them  to  reach  the  boat 
now,  even  should  they  be  so  fortunate  as  to  discover 


JACK.  267 

Sady,  the  flower  of  the  harem.  All  that  remains  is 
to  fight  to  the  last  and  die  as  brave  men  should. 
Only  for  Aleck's  rnad  infatuation  they  would  ers 
this  have  been  upon  the  water,  and  presently  safe 
on  board  the  yacht  that  lay  there  at  anchor,  her 
white  wings  spread  ready  to  fly  away  at  short  no 
tice.  Blind  love,  indeed,  that  weaves  such  a  net  in 
which  one's, dearest  friends  are  ensnared. 

They  rush  along.  Jack  has  learned  from  Achmed 
and  his  own  observation  where  the  entrance  to  the 
harem  is  located,  and  he  heads  for  that  quarter. 
They  are  sure  to  find  the  door  locked.  "What  then? 
How  can  they  burst  it  open,  and  storm  through  the 
luxurious  quarters  where  Abdallah  Pasha  keeps  his 
wives  and  slaves,  terrifying  the  poor  women  and 
searching  for  the  one  creature  in  all  the  world 
whose  presence  will  convince  poor  foolish  Aleck 
that  it  is  his  duty  to  flee. 

Well,  anything  that  can  stand  up  before  Jack's 
impetuous  rush  must  be  sturdy,  indeed,  and  he  has 
yet  to  see  the  door  that  there  is  not  some  means  of 
throwing  open.  Doctor  Jack  knows  the  power  of  a 
diminutive  dynamite  cartridge,  of  which  he  carries 
several,  packed  in  cotton,  in  his  tobacco  pouch. 

While  they  are  in  the  midst  of  the  rush,  a  figure 
suddenly  confronts  them.  Doctor  Jack's  name  is 
uttered,  and  he  recognizes  Mercedes. 

"You  are  lost — you  cannot  reach  the  boat.  Enter 
here — there  may  be  another  way  to  save  you,"  she 
exclaims. 

The  wild  shouts  of  the  janizaries  tell  that  they 
have  formed  a  cordon  around  the  spot,  and  are 
closing  in.  Ere  three  minutes  have  passed  the  sol. 
diers  of  the  pasha  will  be  walled  around  them,  fierce 
follows,  too,  ready  to  fisrht  like  tigers. 


288  DOCTOR  JAOR. 

"It  is  no  use,  Mercedes,  we  might  have  been  safe, 
but  Aleck  would  not  save  his  own  life  and  desert 
Sady,"  cries  Jack. 

"Carambaf  what  men  you  Americans  are.  Sady 
is  in  here  with  me.  Enter  quickly  if  you  would  not 
ruin  all.  It  is  a  trap — a  snare  for  Abdallah  in  his 
own  house.  Quick,  in  the  name  of  the  Virgin !  they 
are  coming!" 

Doctor  Jack  resolves  on  the  instant  to  trust  all  to 
Mercedes.  He  cannot  guess  what  her  plan  is,  or 
how  visionary  it  may  be,  but  the  woman's  wit  may 
save  them.  They  pass  into  a  dimly  lighted  interior 
— Aleck  utters  a  cry  of  joy,  and  folds  Sady  in  his 
arms. 

The  shouts  grow  louder.  Mercedes  is  at  the  door. 
She  beckons  wildly. 

"This  way,  Don  Carlos — Abdallah — they  are  here 
in  a  trap — this  way!" 

Has  she  betrayed  them?  Jack  knows  better,  for 
she  has  hastiiy  given  him  the  outline  of  her  plan. 
One,  two,  three  figures  glide  through  the  opening, 
then  the  heavy  door  is  closed,  the  bar  falls,  and  the 
last  tableau  in  this  strange  act  forms. 


CHAPTER  XXIV, 

PEACE     WITH     HONOR. 

Larry  is  amazed,  for  he  does  not  exactly  compre 
hend  matters,  but  having  made  up  his  mind  to  fol 
low  Jack's  actions,  he  keeps  an  eye  on  that  worthy. 

At  the  same  time  he  has  recognized  the  trio  of 
forms  that  have  glided  into  the  room.  They  are, 
first  of  all,  the  pasha,  looking  as  black  as  a  thunder 
cloud;  Don  Carlos,  apparently  only  half-hearted  in 
the  business,  and  the  matador,  Pedro  Vasquez,  upon 
whose  face  is  an  expression  that  may  be  likened  to 
a  tiger's.  He  sees  at  last  the  man  who  robbed  him 
of  his  laurels  before  the  public  of  Madrid — sees  and 
hates,  if  that  can  be,  ten  times  more  than  before. 

So  far  as  numbers  go,  they  are  unequally  matched ; 
but  taking  the  dapper  dude,  the  weak  Aleck,  with 
the  old  Achmed,  and  they  would  prove  but  a  mouth 
ful  for  Pedro  Vasquez. 

Something  besides  numbers  counts,  and  the  revol 
vers  in  the  hands  of  Jack  and  Larry  carry  the  bal 
ance  of  power.  They  immediately  cover  their  three 
enemies,  who  stand  still,  forming  a  peculiar  group 
— a  Turk  and  two  Spaniards  at  bay,  one  of  these 
latter  a  gentleman,  the  other  possessing  the  brawny 
frame  and  bull-like  neck  of  the  professional  fighter, 

"Gentlemen,"  says  Jack,  in  French,  which  he  be 
lieves  they  all  understand — his  manner  is  ccol,  and 
the  hand  that  holds  the  revolver  as  steady  as  the 
eternal  hills,  "I  trust  you  take  in  the  situation.  In 
stead  of  making  us  prisoners  you  have  fallen  tem 
porarily  into  our  power.  Now  listen  to  reason.  We 
desire  to  leave  this  place  at  once,  and  we  shall  take 


290  .OOCTOR  JACK. 

the  pasha  to  the  end  of  his  grounds  as  a  prisoner  of 
war  in  order  to  shield  ourselves  from  his  followers. 
He  shall  be  released  when  we  have  the  first  chance 
at  escape.  After  that  it  is  the  devil's  own  chase." 

He  watches  to  see  the  effect  on  his  hearers.  Don 
Carlos  is  the  only  one  unmoved,  for  his  stake  in  this 
game  is  not  so  large  as  that  of  the  others. 

The  pasha  grinds  his  teeth,  while  Pedro  scolds  and 
sneers. 

"Carajo  !"  he  hisses,  speaking  Spanish  because  he 
can  better  express  himself  in  his  own  language, 
which  is  well  fitted  for  irony,  "the  valiant  American 
does  well  to  shield  himself  behind  a  small  gun.  He 
is  safe  there.  I  have  come  all  the  way  from  Madrid 
to  give  him  the  chance  to  treat  me  as  the  bull  di(J. 
They  called  you  a  brave  man,  but  only  a  coward 
hides  behind  a  revolver  when  a  rival  dares  him  to 
fight.  Here  am  I,  Pedro  Vasquez,  your  deadly  foe, 
ready  to  lock  arms  with  you  and  prove  which  is 
the  better  man.  There  are  plenty  of  excuses,  but 
only  a  coward  will  seek  them.  The  man  and  the 
place — Senor  Jack,  will  you  accept?" 

His  manner  cannot  be  described.  It  is  insulting, 
taunting,  and  makes  Jack's  blood  boil.  At  another 
time  he  would  have  been  at  the  man  like  an  ava 
lanche,  why  not  now?  True,  there  is  much  at 
stake,  but  Jack  seems  to  forget  that.  He  only  re 
members  that  this  man  has  insulted  him  before  his 
friends,  and  his  blood  becomes  heated. 

"Aleck,  take  this  revolver.  Cover  the  pasha,  and 
at  one  treacherous  move  send  a  bullet  into  his 
brain,"  and  the  other  grasps  the  weapon  with  a  cry 
of  satisfaction,  fastening  his  blood-shot  eyes  on  the 
Turk  in  an  eager  way  that  makes  Abdallah  tremble 
in  his  shoes. 


DOCTOR  JAVK.  291 

Doctor  Jack,  having  given  way  to  the  terrible  im 
pulse,  does  not  hang  fire,  but  deliberately  takes  off 
his  coat,  and  advances  in  the  direction  of  the  Span 
ish  matador.  He  has  seen  Pedro  in  the  arena,  and 
gauged  his  powers,  so  that  he  now  has  a  pretty 
good  idea  of  what  resisting  qualities  he  may  meet. 

"Come,  I  am  impatient  to  depart.  Let  us  get  this 
little  circus  over  as  soon  as  possible.  I  warn  you, 
Pedro  Vasquez,  you  will  find  my  fall  worse  than  a 
toss  from  the  short  horns  of  a  black  toro.  Are  you 
ready—  bra  vo  ?  " 

His  words  irritate  and  further  enrage  the  bull 
fighter,  just  as  he  intends.  Jack  has  indeed  no 
time  to  waste  in  this  matter,  and  he  hopes  to  ex 
pedite  the  affair.  As  he  expects,  the  other  rushes  at 
him  f  uriuosly.  Jack  has  already  selected  his  hold, 
and  takes  it — an  old  favorite  of  his. 

They  stand  there  like  two  grand  oaks,  with  mus- 
rles  knotted  and  strained.  Jack  is  testing  the 
other's  strength.  In  a  bull-like  way  Pedro  may  be 
the  stronger,  but  he  does  not  know  how  to  manipu 
late  his  tremendous  power. 

All  watch  them  eagerly,  though  Aleck  and  Larry 
do  not  forget  to  keep  an  eye  on  the  men  over  whom 
thoy  have  been  placed  as  guards. 

Mercedes  is  intensely  aroused — like  all  the  women 
of  Spain,  she  loves  to  see  gladiators  in  the  ring  con 
testing  for  the  supremacy,  whether  among  them 
selves  or  with  a  fierce  animal — a  bull  or  a  bear,  per- 
ivr.ps  a  tiger.  She  adores  Doctor  Jack,  and  her  sym 
pathies  are  all  excited  in  favor  of  him,  but  she  has 
fe.irs,  seeing  the  more  bulky  frame  of  the  bull 
fighter,  and  not  being  posted  with  regard  to  the  fine 
qualities  of  an  athlete's  figure. 

Doctor  Jack  waits  no  longer.     He  has  found  out 


«92  DOCTOX  JAU*. 

what  he  has  to  meet,  and  quickly  foils  several  ener 
getic  whirls  of  the  Spaniard,  who  has  never  yet  met 
a  man  able  to  stand  up  before  him  in  this  way,  and 
is  decidedly  amazed  to  find  his  fiercest  efforts  have 
no  more  effect  on  the  American  wrestler  than  had 
the  other  been  a  solid  oak. 

Now  it  is  Jack's  turn.  He  gathers  all  his  surplus 
energy  for  the  endeavor,  since  time  is  so  very  valu 
able  to  him.  Pedro  understands  that  he  is  to  be 
tested,  and  braces  himself  to  meet  the  tug  of  war, 
but  had  a  whirlwind  struck  him  it  could  not  have 
created  greater  havoc.  He  is  torn  from  his  feet, 
lifted  bodily  from  the  floor  in  spite  of  his  tremend 
ous  powers.  Jack  has  spread  his  legs  for  the  effort, 
and  a  magnificent  one  it  is— the  bulky  Pedro  is  ac 
tually  lifted  over  him,  and  tossed  to  the  ground, 
striking  partly  on  his  head  and  shoulder.  He  does 
not  move,  and  whether  the  ex-bull-fighter  is  merely 
insensible  or  has  had  his  neck  broken,  the  future 
will  alone  tell.  At  least  he  has  lost  all  interest  in 
the  game. 

Mercedes  claps  her  hands — even  Don  Carlos  can 
not  but  look  with  admiration  and  awe  upon  the 
wonderful  man  he  once  called  friend.  The  pasha's 
face  appears  more  ugly  than  ever  at  this  defeat  of 
his  bravo,  but  Larry  is  exultant,  and  crows  like  a 
roosler  in  a  barn-yard. 

"Victory !  victory !  well  done,  Doctor  Jack.  Three 
cheers  for  the  Stars  and  Stripes.  Hurrah — hur— 
There  he  suddenly  stops — he  has  a  good  reason  for 
doing  so,  as  the  door  of  the  apartment  is  burst  in 
with  a  crash,  and  striking  the  dude,  doubles  him  up 
in  a  corner.  Men  pour  in  through  the  opening.  Doc 
tor  Jack  realizes  that  the  worst  has  come,  and  he 
without  a  weapon  to  meet  it  save  those  nature  gave 


JACK.  283 

him.  He  is  not  the  kind  to  give  up  easily,  and  al 
though  the  janizaries  heap  themselves  upon  him,  he 
struggles  desperately  against  the  heavy  odds,  and 
Mercedes,  watching  his  magnificent  efforts,  can 
hardly  restrain  the  admiration  she  feels  for  him. 

Aleck,  when  the  grand  climax  takes  place,  has 
been  seized  with  a  desire  to  make  use  of  his  chance. 
It  looks  as  though  their  portion  would  be  death  now, 
and  he  has  not  forgotten  what  he  declared  to  be  his 
desire — "one  chance  at  that  devil  before  I  give  up." 
He  endeavors  to  take  aim,  and  as  the  pasha  knows 
not  his  danger,  it  looks  as  though  doom  were  about 
to  settle  upon  him ;  but  Satan  cares  for  his  own,  and 
just  at  this  opportune  moment  one  of  the  janizaries 
passing  by  receives  in  his  shoulder  the  leaden  mes 
senger  intended  for  the  brain  of  the  wily  Turk.  Ere 
Aleck  can  draw  back  the  hammer  of  his  weapon 
again,  he  is  pounced  upon  by  the  emissaries  of  the 
pasha  and  held  in  hands  of  iron. 

All  are  secured  but  Jack.  He  has  hurled  his  as 
sailants  from  him  thrice,  like  a  mastiff  shaking  the 
water  from  his  coat,  but  each  time  they  return  to 
the  attack,  and  it  is  evident  that  by  mere  force  of 
numbers  they  must  eventually  overcome  him. 

Some  of  them  are  for  slaying  the  unbeliever,  and 
steel  flashes  in  the  light  of  the  lamp,  but  Abdallah 
Pasha  dreams  of  even  a  more  terrible  revenge- 
speedy  death  is  too  good  for  a  man  who  has  braved 
him  in  his  own  palace — he  would  torture  the  Ameri 
can  even  as  he  has  Aleck,  and  make  him  experience 
the  horrors  of  a  living  death. 

So  he  shouts  out  hoarse  orders — the  janizaries 
know  the  temper  of  their  master  full  well,  and  there 
is  not  one  dares  disobey  him.  The  flashing 


294  DOCTOR  JACK. 

vanishes,  and  they  devote  their  selves  toward  over- 
coining  him  with  physical  force. 

No  one  is  watching  Mercedes,  and  her  face  is  a 
study.  Her  sympathies  are  with  the  American. 
Once  she  even  starts  toward  him  holding  the  revol 
ver  Larry  has  dropped,  but  restrains  herself,  know 
ing  how  futile  it  would  be,  since  such  an  act  must 
only  be  the  signal  for  general  carnage.  She  has  a 
better  card  to  play  than  that. 

All  at  once  Doctor  Jack  ceases  to  struggle.  The 
wonderful  muscles  become  quiet,  and  he  stands 
there  breathing  hard,  yet  looking  around  at  his  ene 
mies  undaunted.  Three  Turks  hang  upon  each  arm 
"tfhile  half  a  dozen  more  await  the  least  movement 
K)  hurl  themselves  upon  his  body. 

Abdallah  Pasha  looks  pleased.  He  sees  all  his 
toes  captured,  and  it  seems  as  though  the  victory  is 
within  his  grasp.  Like  many  another  general,  he 
*uirr/s  at  conclusions  without  positive  proof,  and  in 
<n  .:ing  his  calculations  has  left  one  person  out. 

Mercedes! 

"Bring  ropes,"  he  shouts  to  his  men,  "we  will 
)ind  them  all.  They  shall  see  how  sweet  a  place  a 
Turkish  dungeon  is.  Gangrene  shall  eat  their  flfsh. 
Every  breath  they  draw  will  be  a  curse  upon  the 
hour  they  ever  braved  the  anger  of  a  pasha.  Ropes, 
I  say ;  tie  them  tight,  until  the  blood  stands  in  their 
veins  like  knotted  vines.  The  dogs  have  come  to  test 
the  hospitality  of  a  pasha— they  shall  discover  how 
warm  it  is."  He  laughs  like  a  fiend  from  Tophet, 
a  ad  rubs  his  hands  together,  then  suddenly  frowns, 
for  in  front  of  him  Mercedes  appears,  and  something 
in  her  face  gives  the  pasha  a  shuddering  fit. 

"VVbat  would  you?"  he  asks,  sullenly,  in  Spanish. 


DOCTOR  JACK  296 

"These  men  must  go — you  will  not  keep  them 
here,  pasha,"  returns  the  woman. 

A  sneer  sweeps  over  his  face.  In  common  with  all 
Turks  he  has  a  very  poor  idea  of  a  woman's  abili 
ties,  and  thinks  she  is  only  fitted  to  be  a  man's 
slave,  hence  he  imagines  Mercedes  means  to  try  her 
power  at  pleading — that  might  have  done  before, 
but  she  has  crossed  the  Rubicon,  and  become  his 
wife,  thus  losing  her  power. 

"Out  of  the  way,  woman.  This  is  business  fit 
only  for  men.  He  was  your  lover.  You  shall  see 
how  I  punish  him  for  crossing  my  path.  Begone  to 
your  apartments!" 

If  he  expects  to  see  Mercedes  obey,  he  makes  the 
greatest  mistake  of  his  life.  Those  black  eyes  never 
leave  his  face,  and  he  experiences  a  queer  feeling — 
it  is  fear — something  that  never  before  came  to  him 
in  connection  with  a  woman — they  have  no  part 
even  in  the  Mohammedan  worship,  as  they  are  not 
believed  to  have  souls. 

"TSTot  yet,  pasha.  I  shall  not  sleep  to-night  until 
every  one  of  these — my  friends — have  reached  a 
placo  of  safety  And  you  yourself  shall  give  the 
command  that  they  be  unharmed." 

He  stares  at  her  in  blank  amazement,  perhaps 
imagining  that  she  has  lost  her  senses.  Then  a 
grim  ismile  comes  upon  his  dark  face.  The  electric 
midnight  eyes  do  not  once  leave  him,  but  they  seem 
to  have  lost  their  power. 

"I  shall  at  once  give  the  order  for  their  execu 
tion,"  he  cries,  fiercely. 

''And  in  so  doing  sign   your  own  death  warrant,'" 
she  replies,  with  a  contemptuous  look. 
"What  do  you  mean,  woman?" 
!<Ab*!ul   Haraid,  your  royal   master,  doc.q  not  for 


*96  DOCTO&  JACK. 

give  a  traitor,  If  his  brother  were  found  in  com 
munication  with  Russia  his  head  must  pay  the  pen 
alty  for  his  offense." 

The  stout  pasha  is  seized  with  a  species  of  vertigo. 
He  trembles  so  that  his  lips  twitch,  and  his  knees 
seem  to  knock  together.  Into  his  eyes  there  comes 
a  great  fear,  as  though  the  woman's  words  have 
shot  home  to  his  heart.  The  Turkish  iSultan  has 
been  known  as  a  martinet  in  military  affairs,  and 
more  than  one  of  his  subjects  has  suffered  death  be 
cause  of  being  connected  with  some  plot  against  the 
Abdul  Hamid  dynasty. 

"You  speak  of  a  matter  upon  which  you  are  ig 
norant.  What  reason  have  I  to  fear  the  Sultan's  clis 
pleasure?"  he  demands,  boldly,  but  his  assurance  ia 
assumed,  for  secretly  he  is  still  trembling  with  that 
haunting  fear. 

"Ah !  cast  your  eyes  upon  that  paper,  and  tell  me 
if  you  ever  saw  it  before."  She  hands  him  a  little 
slip,  insignificant  in  itself,  but  containing  several 
dozen  Turkish  names. 

At  sight  of  the  magic  paper  the  pasha  has 
another  desperate  fit  of  trembling,  and  his  teeth  rat 
tle  in  his  head  like  Spanish  castanets,  while  his  bulg 
ing  eyes,  filled  with  terror,  are  glued  upon  the  face 
of  the  woman  who  stands  there — mistress  of  the 
field. 

"Where  did  you  get  this?"  he  almost  shrieks. 

"I  had  a  clew,  and  found  the  package  of  papers 
hidden  under  the  arch  in  your  private  den.  They 
were  what  I  wanted  to  hold  over  you." 

"Jezebel!  you  but  seal  your  own  death  warrant. 
I  shall  have  you  share  the  fate  of  these  fools,  and 
thus  prevent  your  lips  ever  betraying  the  secret  you 


DOCTOR  JACK.  297 

have  discovered/'  but  Mercedes  smiles  in  his  dis 
torted  face. 

"That  will  not  save  you,  pasha.  The  papers  I 
have  done  up  in  a  package,  and  placed  in  the  hands 
of  a  friend.  If  I  do  not  personally  call  for  them 
when  the  bells  of  St.  Sophia  summon  the  faithful  to 
prayer  at  sunrise,  he  is  to  lay  them  before  the  Sul 
tan." 

Abdallah  Pasha  feels  his  feet  slipping  beneath 
him.  He  has  lost  his  hold.  If  what  she  says  be  true 
he  will  not  be  particular  in  a  day  or  two  with  re 
gard  to  the  fit  of  his  fez,  as  the  chances  are  he  will 
have  no  head  upon  which  to  wear  it. 

"You  comprehend,  pasha.  Unless  these — my 
friends — are  allowed  to  depart  in  peace,  your  doom 
is  sealed.  There  is  no  half  way  measure.  Give  the 
order  for  their  release!" 

Eye  looks  into  eye.  He  knows  she  has  won,  and 
that  he  is  beaten.  Personal  safety  to  a  man  of  his 
caliber  is  of  more  value  than  any  other  considera 
tion.  He  will  even  give  up  his  most  cherished  re 
venge  in  order  to  save  his  life. 

"They  shall  go,  but  I  must  have  the  papers  at 
daybreak — you  swear  to  get  them?"  he  asks, 
huskily. 

"Yes,  I  swear.  Now,  tell  your  men  to  release  the 
prisoners,  and  not  a  man  among  the  dogs  must 
move  from  this  spot  for  half  an  hour." 

He  obeys,  and  the  janizaries  fall  back.  His  as 
pect  is  enough  to  terrify  them.  Beaten  by  a  woman, 
he  gnashes  his  teeth  in  impotent  rage,  and  looks  like 
a  savage  monster. 

Mercedes  sees  Jack's  face — it  is  filled  with  ad 
miration  and  reverence.  She  chokes  down  a  sob, 
and  gives  him  her  hand. 


298  DOCTOR  JACK. 

"Farewell,  Senor  Jack — we  meet  no  more.  I  am 
glad  that  you  owe  me  something.  My  fate  is  not  io 
be  envied  here — perhaps  some  time  you  will  think  of 
Mercedes.'' 

"God  help  me  if  I  ever  forget  you  What  do  I 
not  owe  you?  Is  it  impossible  for  you  to  go  with 
us — must  you  remain?" 

She  hesitates,  looks  toward  the  pasha,  shudders, 
and  then  remembers  the  face  of  Avis.  That  decides 
her.     She  must  stay,  since   she   cannot  be  more  to 
this,  her  king  of  men,  than  a  friend. 
"It  cannot  be — farewell — forever!" 

Doctor  Jack  turns  away  to  hide  the  tears  in  his 
eyes.  As  he  passes  out  of  the  door  he  takes  one  swift 
look  backward,  sees  the  pasha  still  grinding  his 
teeth  and  shaking  his  fist  after  them.  Mercedes' 
head  has  sunk  in  her  hands,  poor  girl.  J{>ck  fee's 
a  lump  in  his  throat  that  nearly  choke*  him  as  he 
hurries  away. 

The  scene  changes — they  reach  the  shore  where 
the  boat  awaits  them.  Entering,  they  pass  over  the 
dark  water  to  the  yacht.  Six  hours  remain,  then 
hoc  pursuit  will  be  made,  and  they  must  depend 
upon  urtifice  to  save  them.  Mercedes  has  put  a  slip 
of  paper  in  Jack's  hand,  and  striking  a  match  he 
reads : 

';1  have  managed  that  the  pasha's  steam  yacht 
shall  be  out  of  order.  It  will  take  them  a  day  to 
get  her  ready  for  work.  Beware  of  the  forts  at  the 
straits." 

"God  bless  her."  says  Doctor  Jack,  in  his  heart, 
then  they  reach  the  yacht,  where  Avis  is  waiting  to 
greet  them— Aleck  first,  as  he  is  helped  on  deck,  and 
the  i  Jack,  about  whose  neck  her  arms  are  folded  aa 
she  whispers: 


DOCTOR  JACK.  299 

"Safe!  Oh!  Jack,  what  tortures  I  have  endured." 

"AU  is  well  now,  love.  See,  already  the  anchor 
is  up— we  are  off  for  Rome,  where  I  mean  to  claim 
my  reward." 

No  pursuit  is  made,  but  the  pasha,  after  he  has 
recovered  his  papers,  sends  a  message  to  the  forts  to 
search  every  vessel.  Our  friends  are  in  hiding,  and 
the  Thistledown  is  allowed  to  proceed. 

At  last  they  are  upon  the  Mediterranean,  and  all 
around  them  is  peace.  Hand  in  hand  Doctor  Jack 
and  Avis  look  back  upon  the  troubled  wake  of  the 
vessel — it  is  like  their  own  past,  while  beyond  lies 
the  calm  blue  sea,  promising  a  happy  future. 

flHE  END.] 


THE  LIFE  CF  OUR  GREAT 
AMERICAN  NAVAL  HERO, 


ADMIRAL  GEORGE  DEWEY, 


BY   WILL   M.   CLEMENS, 

A  itthor  of  "  Theodore  Roosevelt  the  A  mcrican,  His  Life  and  Work" 
"A  Ken  of  Kipling"  "  Tfte  Defieva  Story  Book"  etc, 

12mot    1©S    PP- 

Elegantly  bound  in  the  most  approved  modern  style  in  fine  cloth, 
with  gold  top  and  original  cover  designs,  with  eleven  full-page 
Illustrations. 

Probably  the  most  popular  man  in  the  world  to-day  is  Admiral 
George  Dewey.  He  is  the  man  of  the  hour— the  one  whom  every 
body  wishes  to  know  about.  The  author  has  given  us  a  most  ex 
cellent  and  entertaining  book,  which  will  prove  a  fitting  ornament 
and  valuable  acquisition  to  any  home  in  the  land.  We  can  best  give 
an  idea  of  the  scope  of  this  work  by  mentioning  the  titles  of  the 
various  chapters,  which  are  as  follows:  "The  Dewey  Ancestry," 
"The  Boy  George,"  "At  the  Naval  Academy,"  "The  Young  Lieu 
tenant,"  "The  Battle  of  Port  Hudson,"  "In  the  Years  of  Peace," 
"  Life  in  Washington,"  "The  Battle  of  Manila  Bay,"  "The  Official 
Records,"  "Dewey  the  Hero,"  "After  the  Battle,"  "Days  of 
Vigilance,"  "The  Fall  of  Manila,"  "Fighting  the  Insurgents, 'i 
"Admiral  of  the  Navy."  Mr.  Clemens  has  attained  a  deserved 
reputation  as  an  able  and  interesting  writer,  and  this  his  latest  work 
is  conceded  to  be  one  of  his  very  best. 


RRICE    OrsJE    DOLLAR. 


AT  ALL  BOOKSELLERS,  OR  BY  MAIL,  POSfPAlO,  FROM  THE  PUBLISHERS, 

STREET  &  SMITH,  Publishers, 

232  to  238  William  St.,  New  York.       £ 


< 


De  Past,  Present  and 

of  fiw 


AA4*4       'ttA/l        ^**'1-tta»4/*.  O 


BY  A,  D.  HALL, 

is  a  companion  volume  to  the  work  on  "Cuba  and 
Porto  Rico."  These  books  tell  you  just  what  you  most 
wish  to  know  about  the  Philippines  and  Hawaii,  and 
point  out  tc  the  reader  where  the  best  opportunities 

THE  PHILIPPINES 

Hall  has  in  these  books  produced  works  of  which  he 
may  well  be  proud.  In  all  the  mass  of  information 
which  has  been  put  forth  on  these  localities,  both  in 
the  public  press  and  in  book  form,  nothing  has  been 
written  at  once  so  concise  and  so  com-  j_j  »  •«•»  T  A  |f 
plete.  The  cost  is  a  mere  bagatelle  II A  W  All 
compared  with  the  valuable  information  contained. 
Hawaii  has  a  very  interesting  and  romantic  history 
well  worth  reading,  while  the  Philippines  have  until 
recently  been  so  unknown  to  us  that  any  information 
is  new.  Bound  in  style  uniform  with  "  Cuba  and  Porto 
Rico,"  and  containing  the  latest  authentic  maps  of  the 
Philippines  and  Hawaii. 


RRICE     OIMI 


DOLLAR. 


STREET  &  SMITH,  Publishers, 
232-238  WILLIAM  STREET, 

NEW  YORK. 


I  nun  ycu/  nnoocootfuso 

I  UUK  PlhW  ruoohdoSUNS. 


Gil 


A  new  empire  has  been  opened  for  the  industrial  con 
quest  of  American  enterprise — a  new  region  where  the 
man  with  brains  or  brawn  may  secure  for  himself  a 
fortune  by  honest  industry.  What  has  been  the  story 
of  Spanish  misrule  and  oppression  which 
has  kept  Cuba  and  Porto  Rico  from  as 
suming  their  rightful  positions  in  the 
commerce  of  the  world?  What  were  the  causes  that 
led  to  the  recent  war  ?  What  is  the  present  condition 
of  these  fertile  isles  ?  What  is  the  opportunity  for 
American  enterprise  and  future  development  thus 

opened  up  to  us  ?  What 
is  the  mineral  wealth  of 
Cuba  and  Porto  Rico,  and 
where  does  it  lie  ?  What  are  the  agricultural  possibili 
ties  ?  The  commercial  ?  These  and  many  other  sub 
jects  of  interest  are  exhaustively  considered  in 

"Tie  Past,  Present  and  Future  of  Cuba  and  Porto  Rico," 

by  A.  D.  HALL,  a  work  which  has  been  prepared  with 
special  care  and  exhaustive  research.  Mr.  Hall  does 
not  write  in  a  dry  fashion,  nor  deal  with  statistics  alone. 
He  has  presented  a  vital  picture  of  the  situation,  in  a 
terse  and  vigorous  style  that  is  at  once  interesting  and 
complete.  Elegantly  bound,  with  gilt  top,  English  silk 
cloth,  white  laid  paper,  a  valuable  addition  to  any  library, 
and  embellished  with  the  latest  and  most  accurate  maps 
of  Cuba  and  Porto  Rico. 


RRICE    ONE     DOLLAR. 


STREET  &  SMITH,  Publishers, 

232-238  William  Street, 

NEW   YORK. 


I 


THE:    ROMANCES    OF 


This  author  is  not  by  any  means  as  familiar  to  American  and 
English  readers  as  the  merit  of  his  work  would  warrant.  It  is  a 
positive  pleasure  to  exploit  the  writings  of  one  so  well  equipped  lor 
a  foremost  position  in  the  school  of  which  Alexandra  Dumas,  Tbeo- 
phils  Qajtier  and  Stanley  J.  Weyman  are  the  accepted  standards. 
Slons.  Achard's  works  are  popular  favorites  with  the  French  people, 
and  the  excellent  translations  of  his  best  novels  which  we  are  pre 
senting  to  the  public  in  moderate-priced  editions  de  luxe  cannot  fail 
to  please  and  satisfy  all  lovers  of  "The  Three  Musketeers,"  "A 
Gentleman  of  France,"  "  Captain  Fracasse,"  and  works  of  like  tenor. 
Not  a  little  of  the  satisfaction  these  books  will  give  to  the  readers  is 
due  to  the  excellent  work  of  the  translators,  who  have  caught  the 
spirit  of  the  author,  and  rendered  his  charming  romances  into  the 
equivalent  Bnglish  idiom  without  that  stilted  observance  of  the 
eccentricities  of  the  French  language  which  has  spoiled  so  many 
otherwise  good  translations  of  French  authors.  This  is  the  only 
English  translation  of  these  toorks  which  has  yet  been  made. 

NOW   READY 

BELLE-ROSE 

A  Romance  of  the  Cloak  and  Sword. 

TRANSLATED  BY  WILLIAM  HALE. 

To  which  is  prefixed  a  biography  of  the  distinguished  author  by  tht 
translator. 

"  The  charm  that  is  always  to  be  found  in  the  works  of  the  best 
French  writers — quick,  terse  description,  bright  dialogue,  rapidly 
shifting  scenes  and  incidents  leading  up  to  intense  climaxes— is  well 
sustained  in  the  story  of  '  Belle-Rose.'  It  is  a  romance  in  which  the 
hero  undertakes  and  conquers  all  manner  of  difficulties  for  the  love 
of  a  woman,  and  the  author  throws  the  glamor  of  love  and  war  over 
all,  introducing  such  celebrated  characters  in  history  as  give  it  the 
air  of  reality,  until  tlie  reader  must  regret  at  the  close  that  it  has 
come  to  an  end.  The  purest  love  of  woman,  the  fidelity  of  man,  the 
sacredness  of  friendsnip,  intrigues  of  the  court,  jealousies  and 
revenge,  a  delightful  touch  of  humor  or  pathos  coming  to  :he  relief 
at  some  most  tragic  climax,  gives  the  story  a  most  powerful  fascina 
tion.  Emile.  Faguet  speaks  of  the  '  Belle- Roue '  of  Amedee  Achard 
as  superior  to  '  Le  Caiptaine  Frucasne,'1  by  Theophile  Gautier." 

BOUND  IK  HANDSOME  CLOTH,  PRINT- 0  ON  HEAVY  PAPER,  368  PAGES,  FIVE  FULL- 
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• 


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Geoffry's   Victory.  I 


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